HUMAN IN LOVE conducted the “Capacity Building Program for Primary School Teachers” aimed at 35 primary school teachers from seven schools located in Rweru, Rwanda. The program was held for five days from Jan. 16 to 20, in cooperation with Gyeonggi-do, one of the provinces of Korea.
[ Theory education of the “Capacity Building Program for Primary School Teachers” ]
Teaching ability of primary school teachers greatly affect their students. However, most of the primary school teachers in Rwanda start their career as soon as they graduate from their high schools and there are no capacity building programs for the teachers aside from basic teaching methods of each subject. Therefore, quality programs for the teachers were desperately needed.
In particular, Rweru sector shares border with Burundi and Tanzania and is inhabited by a number of returnees who took refuge from the Rwanda genocide which occurred in 1994. Also, its people are suffering from extreme poverty, living under 1,000 Korean won(1 US dollar)/day per family on average.
Therefore, HUMAN IN LOVE carried out the program under the theme of “finding a problem of the local community autonomously and coming up with a solution,” and invited researchers of “The Bridge” as instructors of the education program.
Properly understanding a problem is the first step of solving the problem
[ Teachers of Rweru local primary schools who are participating in the program are writing down their names on a list ]
Not being discouraged by the dry weather and dusty air of Rwanda’s short dry season, primary school teachers of Rweru sector, HUMAN IN LOVE staff and instructors gathered together. After a brief theory education, participants (primary school teachers of Rweru sector) were divided into six different teams and found what problems there are in the local community and analyzed “who, what, where, when and why” they are faced with the problem. The problem selected by the teachers was “poverty.”
[ Theory education of HUMAN IN LOVE “Capacity Building Program for Primary School Teachers” ]
At first, the participants approached poverty in an abstract manner, saying that “the cause of poverty is the scorching sun,” “poverty is a leap of our thoughts,” or “poverty is caused by ignorance and incompetence.”
The instructors constantly asked questions to the participants and encouraged them to find the realistic causes of poverty on their own. As a result, starting from the second day of education, the participants were able to find the real causes of poverty, including “decrease in yield” and “insufficient water.” Afterwards, they conducted the first round of on-site survey to see the causes of poverty for themselves and find solutions.
[ Participants are conducting the first on-site survey. ]
To find sustainable and feasible solutions
Meanwhile, researchers from “The Bridge” who served as instructors of the program made great efforts to encourage the participants to be immersed in the program by enjoying it, working out with the participants who came a long way in the early morning and playing a game with them after lunch.
[ Having a pleasurable time with the participants by playing a game ]
On the third day of the program, participants carried out a presentation about the solutions of poverty based on the first on-site survey they conducted the day before. The highest score went to the team that made a presentation on “Drinking water is always insufficient. Then, why is water insufficient? How can we provide enough water to the community?” Everybody was surprised the problem solving ability of the participants greatly improved in just three days.
[ Participants are conducting a second round of field survey visiting shops. ]
On the fourth day, the participants applied “considerations for the cost structure to solve the problem” which they learned on the previous day and calculated necessary costs for solving the issue to complete the cost structure. Then, based on the cost structure, they carried out the second on-site survey and prepared for the final presentation which took place on the last day.
[ Participants being prepared for the final presentation for HUMAN IN LOVE “Capacity Building Program for Primary School Teachers” ]
One of the instructors encouraged the participants who were worrying about the project.
”“It is fine to fail. Through failure, we can get feedback that will enable us to move on to the next step.”
(Instructor Sun-jong Kim)
Hoping that the knowledge and experience learned by the program can be delivered to children as well
Finally, the last day came! The participants gathered at the classroom in the early morning to prepare for the final presentation. Their hands shook a little being nervous, but their face was full of confidence, which was very impressive.
[ Final presentation by teams of HUMAN IN LOVE “Capacity Building Program for Primary School Teachers” ]
The first prize went to the “Fresh water” team that suggested ways to provide drinking water in low cost by utilizing rain.
[ The “Fresh water” team is cheering as they won the first prize of the HUMAN IN LOVE “Capacity Building Program for Primary School Teachers.” ]
”“I learned how to think through the program. I believe this was the true goal of the education program. It was a great honor to participate in the program. Thank you.”
(Principal Deo of Nkanga Primary School)
[ Participants are looking at the comments they received on the presentation materials. ]
The program was proceeded on a tight schedule. Theory education, on-site survey, assignments and presentations had to be done in just five days. However, teachers of the primary schools in Rweru sector took part in the program enthusiastically.
Taking the program as an opportunity, HUMAN IN LOVE hopes the teachers can deliver what they have learned, including ways to solve a problem, carry out on-site activities, work in team and motivate to the primary school students of Rweru sector. Furthermore, we hope the program laid a foundation for driving change and innovation of the local community.
