2010-12-10 21:33:06 | Tags:

- In the summer of 2009 Global Peace Exchange (GPE)’s Primary School team took an old room behind the Bukomero Primary School in Byimana, Rwanda and created an English-language library. In the summer of 2010 the new volunteers returned to the library in order to improve its functionality. During that time the volunteers catalogued and organized all of the books within the library, brought in an additional 190 books, taught faculty and staff how to catalogue, check books out to students. The library would now be used as a tool for teachers to help themselves as well as their students the English language.



- The team also took on the task of creating a functioning computer center. All of the computers were reformatted and inundated with various software (such as TypeFaster and The World Book) that would be used in the training of teachers and students on that software that we hope will give them a greater handle on the English language.



- While at Bukomero Primary School the volunteers conducted two assessments in order to figure out what level of English teachers spoke. Those teachers were then formed into various sections with each section being headed up by one volunteer. Each volunteer met with their teachers individually once or twice a week in order to work on their English teaching skills.



- GPE funded the construction of a block of 12 toilets. These toilets were constructed in such a way that would ensure that none of the waste would seep into the groundwater or cause any other such form of pollution.





- GPE also funded the installation of electricity in Bukomero’s Secondary School block. This was a great necessity because during Rwanda’s wet season the classrooms are typically very dark and sometimes completely unusable.

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2009-06-07 11:16:09 | Tags:

Dear friends,

Thanks to all of you for your ongoing support of GPE. We would like to take a few minutes to keep you abreast of our progress in Rwanda after three weeks. As many of you know, five GPE volunteers have been placed at the Universite Catholique de Kabgayi and another six at Bukomero Primary School. Currently, both groups have been working intensely to get their projects off the ground.

Each project focuses on English education, as Rwanda’s national language of instruction changed from French to English less than one year ago. Understandably, many mechanisms were lacking to provide a smooth transition for primary, secondary, or university students. Our goal is therefore to improve English language instruction and resources so that students are more equipped for learning in their new Anglophone environment.

Bukomero Primary School

The educational system in Rwanda presents quite a challenge as a whole, with Bukomero acting as a microcosm of many national problems stemming from the fact that students must learn all subjects in a target language different from their own. Bukomero serves approximately 1,100 students and, like many rural schools, lacks even the most basic resources. Students are forced to study under sixty year old roofs without books, learn computer science without computers, and lack properly functioning toilettes. In addition, teachers must conduct all lessons in English, though many have only a basic command of the language itself.

Though there exist many difficulties imposed by such a rural environment, the project is off to a promising start. GPE volunteers cover all upper primary and lower secondary English classes in addition to holding teacher trainings two days per week that focus upon learner-centered teaching methods and English competency. Such methods are currently being taught by Rwandan government trainers, yet localized trainings in rural districts rarely occur. Because Bukomero has barely enough English resources for the teachers themselves, these short-term initiatives will be coupled with two long-term steps by the beginning of July: hiring a trained English teacher to work full-time and continue teacher trainings as well as creating a library through the renovation of a storage room and provision of basic resources such as dictionaries, English workbooks, and audio materials.

In addition, because Bukomero’s infrastructural needs are many, GPE volunteers will electrify the classrooms in the school as well as explore additional future projects such as improving IT resources and connectivity, the provision of functioning toilettes (as the current facilities overflow when it rains), secondary school scholarships for students who cannot afford the fees, and roof renovations in the most dilapidated classrooms.

Thank you for your ongoing support of our programs. We will continue to keep you updated on our activities and progress. Please feel free to contact us with any feedback or questions, as we would love to hear from you.

Kind Regards,
The GPE Team

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