Results from our work and your support

TEACHER TRAINING DELIVERS RESULTS!

Mary’s work with the teachers at Ehomba is already paying off in learners results which is fantastic! The headmaster informs us , and I quote “our learners can read, sound and build sentences from the letters words eg the grade 1 improve from 30% -55%, grade 2: 40% -55%, grade 3: 40% -75% Grade 4: 40% -78% this is a fantastic beginning.”  He further goes on to comment,   “The guidelines were very helpful to us, because the teacher and learners are visiting the library and upper grades are improving in reading.  The teacher from the surrounding schools who attended the jolly phonic workshop which Mary conducted during our last visit, have decided to come up with jolly phonic club starting next year.”

We are delighted that the training has inspired the teachers and is delivering results for learner!

GARDEN A BIG SUCCESS

You will remember that we have put a big effort into establishing a garden as the children only had one meal of pap a day. They write and I quote “The garden is improving a lot! Every day from 16h00 – 17h00 teachers and learners are working in the garden. We got a lot of fruits eg tomatoes, and vegetables such as spinach, cabbages,  carrots, onions as well as meals. Learners are real getting real assistance of food from the garden.”

MR ZAUANA IS BACK AT EHOMBA

Mr Zauana has returned to the school after a years study in South Africa. He has done very well and has passed his exams. We are very proud of him, have noticed a big improvement in his approach to many issues and his English has also improved. He completed a computer course while he was away which will be of great assistance to the school going forward.

THE EMAIL WORKS AT LAST!

After 18months work we know have direct communication with Ehomba School via email. This is a huge break through! The solar energy system we funded and had installed is working very well, supporting the equipment but the telecom system had alluded us until now. We have a new member of our team, Frank who lives about 100kms away but has been to the school, has got us wired and has trained the teachers to use the email, so we are in business! It is such a break through as long as the sun shines so that the panels keep the system fired up. We have such fun waking up to messages from teachers about their most recent achievements. The joys of Africa!

VISITS TO THE SCHOOL

We had a terrific visit to Ehomba in June and intend to return in 2010 in July and early August. This year the focus of the outside work was the irrigation system for the garden which has been a huge success. Mary ran a number of training programmes with the teachers, which is now delivering some terrific results. In 2010 we will focus on some shelving in classrooms and seating outside. We will do further training of our Ehomba teachers as well as teachers from the cluster. These teachers are so committed to these children and live in such remote circumstances that they have earned our unlimited respect and we love them to bits!

SCHOLARSHIPS

In 2008 we awarded 4 scholarships to students who had finished their 7 grade, to go to secondary school as boarders. We pay their study fees, their boarding fees and a small uniform allowance. The children do not have the option locally as there is no secondary school though we hope that they Government will agree to extend Ehomba from 2011. In the meantime these children are now studying at boarding school about 110 kms away form Ehomba. They have all done very well in 2009, passing their exams, so we will continue to support them during 2010. We have also agreed to fund another 4 students to begin in 2010 and as long as they do well we will continue to support them through their secondary school years.

FUNDRAISING ONGOING

We have held several fundraising events in 2009. Our annual dinner was a great success with 200 people attending and funds raised exceeded $80,000 form the dinner and auction. We have also spoken to other audiences around the country including the Gore Dinner Club, the Orewa Zonta Club and the Canterbury NZIM all of whom have made generous donations to the trust. If you would like to make a donation to this work the details are above.