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Tag: education

Bats, Bikes and Building Futures in Cambodia

Bats, Bikes and Building Futures in Cambodia

by Sallie Grayson Programme Director So many memories from my recent trip to Cambodia – here are a few highlights Dusk just outside Battanbang. A quiet murmuring, growing louder and louder as a couple of dark specks appeared from the mouth of the cave. There was a prolonged gasp from those of us that were experiencing this incredible spectacle for the first time, and then a mass, slowly mounting in size. The bats were flying in a perfect curved formation………

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working alongside Lisong – in the Gambia this time

working alongside Lisong – in the Gambia this time

In our last newsletter Lisong (from the Gambia) told us about her visit to a British nursery school run by Joanne.  This is the second episode of that story – Joanne tells us about her time volunteering at Lisong’s nursery school in the Gambia. A great example of a real two-way partnership….. ‘I was fortunate enough to meet Lisong (Owner of Mary’s Little Lambs) in August whilst she was visiting the UK and this really helped me in my preparation….

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The “Education Oscars”

The “Education Oscars”

We work with the most inspiring partners who are real drivers for change – and we love it when their work is recognised. Our partners in South Africa, Good Work Foundation have been shortlisted for the “Education Oscars” Good Work Foundation focuses on digital learning opportunities for young adults and scholars living in rural communities. Learn more about the volunteer programme here

International Teaching Volunteers Wanted – Open to All???

International Teaching Volunteers Wanted – Open to All???

This is an article I wrote recently for our blog. As an ex-teacher, I of course hope lots of people will volunteer to improve the educational opportunities for children around the world. However it is important that this is done responsibly and thoughtfully to make sure these volunteers don’t do more harm than good. The article is designed to give some guidelines – it was included in discussions by the panel looking at alternatives to orphanage volunteering at the 2019…

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Sharing experiences works both ways!

Sharing experiences works both ways!

We often include articles in our newsletter written by volunteers describing a visit their experiences in schools abroad. This time we are taking the opposite point of view!  Lisong is the founder and manager of Mary’s Little Lambs, a nursery and prep school in The Gambia.  Joanne is a volunteer whose skills and experience have been matched to Mary’s Little Lambs, where she will be carrying out her volunteer placement in October.  But this article does not describe Joanne’s visit…

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It’s a hard life being programme advisor for people and places – I’m just back from beautiful Saint Lucia!

It’s a hard life being programme advisor for people and places – I’m just back from beautiful Saint Lucia!

Saint Lucia – what a stunning place to volunteer!  And there are several rewarding projects we support there, requiring a range of different skills, which enables us us to match volunteers to projects where they are really needed. I was last in Saint Lucia in 2013, right at the start of our volunteer programme there, so a return visit was long overdue.  I was delighted to go back and spend time with our local partner, Nova.  Together we visited all…

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This has been one of the most productive visits we’ve had

This has been one of the most productive visits we’ve had

The Kugler family have been supporting The Education Support Programme at AV Bukani for over 10 years – here are some extracts from their blog about their latest trip this year “One of the major factors impacting this year is an improvement in electronic communication.  All the teachers and the community leaders communicate through WhatsApp and email on their phones. In past years, email was spotty and the basic phones were hard to use and limited to local calls; communication…

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ready for school – local volunteers and our volunteers make a difference

ready for school – local volunteers and our volunteers make a difference

It’s the end of the school year in southern Africa.  At the Emmanuel Advice Care Centre in Port Elizabeth and at the Neighbourhood Care Points in Swaziland many children are finishing their time at pre-school and are excitedly looking forward to starting school in January.  One of the high points of their last few weeks at pre-school has been their graduation ceremony. We have just heard from our partners in Swaziland that 113 children have graduated and will be entering…

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Gede Special School, Kenya – such a lovely place to volunteer!

Gede Special School, Kenya – such a lovely place to volunteer!

Yvonne has recently returned from her second volunteering placement at Gede.  Here are some of the things she told us. On my first morning Ken (our local partner) took me to the school to meet the head and look around the new buildings – the school has expanded a lot since I was last there in 2014.  Most of the staff were still there from my previous visit – it was lovely to see them again and they seemed pleased…

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seventeen girls in Morocco – first in their families to go to university

seventeen girls in Morocco – first in their families to go to university

Very few girls from the rural communities of the High Atlas Mountains get the opportunity of continuing their education beyond primary school. Secondary schools, mostly several kilometres away in larger towns, are not accessible to them because: Their parents can’t afford to pay for lodgings or transport near secondary schools Their parents don’t have the confidence in existing facilities to entrust their daughters to be away from home. One of the programmes we work with is Education for All in…

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