With the coming of the new curriculum, use and teaching computers is inevitable. The month of July came with a smile as 15 teachers from schools in Siavonga took part in the training in Web designing, Programming using Scratch, aspects of Office using word and excel. The Use of the Raspberry Pi and using Rachel was covered. The training was very successful. Thanks to Howard and Wendy for this timely training. Thanks to Wendy and Howard Kirkman of GiaKonda IT Ltd of Swansea, Wales for this wonderful gesture done to the teachers. ICT is taken to another level.

Its new innovation that make technology to be interesting. The cost of computers is one of the things that threatens people. The coming in of the Raspberry Pi seem to be the answer to the fears and worries for rural schools in Siavonga. Thanks to Giakonda IT for helping rural school in Siavonga Zambia to have the dream realised.

Children in Bbakasa, Matuwa and Kabbila Primary Schools are now exposed to using computers. These computers are run using Solar energy since the schools are not connected to the national grid of hydro-power.

A group of eight teachers for Siavonga district in Zambia visited Swansea, Wales. The is in line with the British Council Connecting Classroom Teacher exchange vist. The teachers were warmly received by the partner schools and the Discovery Team.

Among the many activities done teachers were give opportunities to observe the methods and the way the education structure is in the UK. Blending and cultural exchange were part of the activities. Welsh food and dances were some the activities that the teachers had.

They were also happy to to meet Wendy and Howard of Giakonda to give an insight of how ICT can be developed in Siavonga and the plans for it to be taken to greater heights.

Read about our residential planning session and the workshops and activities which we hope to undertake.

Our team consisted of four professional women, volunteers from the Siavonga Nutrition Group (SNG) and we were joined for a while by four students from the University of Zambia. The plan offered educational activities to school children, and the opportunity to develop literacy and craft skills within women’s groups.
Our January visit coincided with the start of the academic year and the rainy season. The long distance travel to school meant that many children were unable to attend straight away. Three planned workshops were successfully held however, and offered a variety of activities. These included songs, literacy and craft work. Inside the classroom everyone was involved in action songs, which helped to develop listening and speaking. The washing line activity for word building really impressed the teachers. The pupils were keen to learn, and the teachers were positive. They confirmed that they would adopt some ideas in the classroom. Older children at Siavonga high school had high academic aspirations in spite of cultural obstacles. Outside the classroom pupils, children from the village and adults participated in all events. The visits resulted in children having fun whilst learning, and teachers being receptive to new learning strategies.

During the rainy season women work in the fields throughout the week, returning only at the weekend, so numbers at the workshops were not as high as expected. We visited three groups to deliver workshops and gather information on their needs. One group had developed a thriving co-operative which was very encouraging. Activities were planned involving development of literacy skills and learning basic crochet stitches to make items for themselves or to sell. The women were enthusiastic and eager to learn to write, and helped each other to improve their sewing skills. The visit raised the possibility of a training centre to maintain this work, and to provide essential education equipment.

Another exciting but challenging project the tech team undertook was providing and installing a basic computer infrastructure in five of the schools in the partnership, two of which were off grid and had no electricity. The solution to the off grid schools was to install solar panels and deep cycle batteries to provide the necessary power. The computers installed were Raspberry Pis, which are credit card sized computers able to be powered from any 5 volt source. The installation of these computers now means the schools are able to provide the pupils with computer access and deliver and ICT curriculum. An additional benefit was the supply of high intensity LED lights which provided lighting from the same solar grid and battery.

The research team consisting of Aled Thomas, Musuka Mutondo, Graham Zulu and Angelina Shamz undertook six weeks of research on the fishing culture in Siavonga and how it relates to livelihoods in the area. The research involved interviewing certain people (mostly those who otherwise would not have much of a voice in the community) on how they were affected by the fishing practices and asking some to take photos of things and practices that are important to their lives. The stories behind these photos were discussed later. In addition, some biological samples of tilapia fish, mainly used for farming, were taken for genetic analysis on return to Swansea.

This was a very successful project that involved getting some fascinating insights into rural life in the area and some invaluable collaboration with local people that will allow us to really understand the issues facing these people, crucially from their perspective.

Our heartfelt thanks to Eagles Rest for their contribution and support for the team in this successful visit to Siavonga.

You’ll have to wait for the fascinating details as internet is pretty much non-existent.

We have been working with schoolchildren and womens groups and succeeded in installing raspberry Pi computers in a few schools, including two in which we installed solar panels to give them power.

 

Mrs Christine Watson, manager of Discovery, the student volunteering organisation at Swansea University, has been presented with an MBE medal by the Queen.

Mrs Watson was recognised in the New Year’s Honours list this January for “services to Student Volunteering and to Education in Swansea.”

 In a letter of recommendation, the former High Commissioner of Zambia, Ambassador Professor Royson M Mukwena said:

“In view of the impact the Siavonga-Swansea Partnership is having with regard to changing the lives of the women of Siavonga and Swansea students and improving Zambia-UK relations, Mrs Christine Watson’s work deserves to be recognised by the UK government by giving Mrs Watson an appropriate award.”

Christine said,“I am truly grateful to my late father Maurice Knight; Discovery’s former Chair, Dr Martin Lewis of Swansea University, and Discovery’s Patron, Baroness Margaret Jay for nominating me.”

 

 

 

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