Ms. Consilia Mwanza is the school.

There are many people who make this place happen and I have mentioned only a few of them. A while back I reported on Phillip Mvula, the manager and one small part of his large job. He had tried to tell in a simple a way as possible, how one obtains a piece of property here. My explanation was a poor summary of all that he told me regarding his negotiations with three different chiefs regarding the possibility of adding some property to our facilities.

Another key person is Ms. Consilia Mwanza, head teacher of the school. She is in charge of its operation and the education of the children. The school serves our resident children plus as many of the kids from the surrounding area as we can take, the total is about 120 children. She oversees the work of 8 teachers.

She has had a long career in teaching, including experience at the International School, acknowledged as the best in Zambia. She has done some work in government schools but mostly worked in private ones.

It has been my privilege and honor to work for her. You quickly learn that this is a sharp, diffident, private woman, almost singularly focused on the well fare and education of the children. I worked with her for some time before finding out she is caring for her mother (who recently died) and several relatives children. Very down to earth. On my initial visit, I learned to appreciate her in her absence, she became sick and I had to step into her position or try to step into her position. I remember that several new students were admitted while she was away. In talking with these students just a few minutes on her return, she told me exactly what each of them needed in order to catch up with the others at their grade level. I had been working with these kids for several weeks and couldn't have given such a concise answer as to what each needed and been so specific. She is a no nonsense teacher with a good sense of humor.

She is a private person, as evidence I had to try multiple times to get her to agree to an interview; also I have several pictures of her with a paper held in front of her face. But, I am persistent. One day recently when she and Phillip were in discussions outside the school, I took several good pictures of her and was quite pleased with myself. Did I mention that she is a deeply religious lady? Well, God was protecting her that day. This was the only roll of film I have ever had come out blank, as if it had been fully exposed to light before developing. So I still have no pictures of her and am feeling a bit reluctant to try again.


She first started with Chishawasha in 2002, a year she says she will always remember for it coincided with the loss of her only son. The first 'school' was located in a suburb of Lusaka in the Servant's Quarters in a large home being used as the orphanage. They then grew and the school moved out to the garage.



From there the whole operation moved to its present site, but lacking a school building and funds for such, classes were held in a grass hut, a very Zambian structure. But quite cold. They once had to cancel classes on account of low temperatures. The grass hut was still there when I came in '06 and we occasionally used the play area in front of it. I am sorry I never took a picture of that bit of history, we used sections of it to provide cover around the latrine of the 'next' school which was two cleared out corners of block-built warehouse. It was dirty, it was rough, had no amenities, a favorite haunt for bees, the door was a frame work of welded rebars and a flap of canvas. Could not talk during a rain storm, rain on the tin roof would drowned out any instruction. It was also cold and drafty unless it was hot. We had blackboard and chalk, pencils and paper and sufficient books for less than half the class members. That did not deter Ms. Mwanza from producing stellar graduates.

She works on the principle of whatever you do, you must do it very well. Her greatest joy is to take on a student with zero knowledge of English and send her/him out into the world, reading, writing and speaking correct English.


The New House

Well the new house shell is complete with roof, now the finishing work which I remember a contractor telling me is the second half of the job. It has grown up quickly and seems better built than the others. I am sure if I walk by today and ask when I can more in, the workmen will answer as they have the last 2 times I asked them, "Tomorrow."


Volunteers Go Home

Ellinor Angel and Mamie Spillane are leaving, they are leaving a different place than they came to. Both concentrated on the school. Ellinor on the school library and Mamie on class room instruction. Ellinor took a mostly empty room and made it into a functional library with organized shelves and a system that will let the teachers checkout books to their students. Plus she managed to get all the students interested in books and they library.

Mamie efforts through perhaps less visible, has none the less moved the school ahead and challenged our teachers with new ideas, techniques and some new materials that were badly needed. She left all we need to make more and similar materials to keep us up to day.

What these two have done leaves us in much better shape to face the future with a school of distinction. They will be missed, but not the work that they leave behind. [Slight correction, addendum] Ellinor has decided to leave twice, and will stop by again shortly before making her final exit for Obamaland.

This is Sam Weeks blog pressing out of Africa

New House Report

A correction and update on the new house dubbed number 7. I had made some rash predictions in my last blog regarding the imminent appearance of a roof. I was not quite right, my assessments of how the building was going were made mostly at night on my way to and from supper, so there was some imagination involve with what I was actually seeing. The lumber I thought was going for the roof was in reality used for concrete forms to pour the lintels over windows and doorway. Here, however the lintels are continuous and run all around the house covering all the openings. Then the blocks are again laid on that lintel layer on up a few more rows. So now I see new timber for roof rafter and the roof joists are in place. The windows and doors are being framed in. When asked, the workmen always assure me that I can move in tomorrow.

What a lot of water!

Kathe, Phillip and Mamie Spillane (teacher trainer) have gone to Livingstone to see Victoria Falls.

Dictionary game

Last week I decided it was time to learn about dictionaries and looking at a few copies I had of a small dictionary for kids, no definitions, just some common reading words listed in alphabetical order. Seemed pretty useless, I had used it as a source for spelling words. But I wanted to motivate them to get used to looking words up and becoming familiar and comfortable with such books. Recently been watching them play soccer and they are quite competitive. I didn't have enough books for everyone. So I split them into two teams the Elephants and the Lions, each had 3 copies of this same dictionary. I listed 10 words on the board and they had to find that word and write down the preceding word and the one that came directly after it. The team that finished first with the correct answers won. Well right from the first the Elephants would seem to outweigh the Lions in their reading skills at least and I was putting my money (in my mind) on them. And sure enough, they won the first few games. Turns out we couldn't play just once. Eventually the Lions pulled up and the last few games were all draws. Speed seemed to introduce errors, so they would both finish quickly but both would have made an error. This seemed a good time to stop.

An almost functional library!

Ellinor Angel has got our library going with the few shelves we have. She has grouped the books in way that make them easy to find both for students and teachers. She has put up some nice posters that just happen to go with a good story book and makes a nice reading corner.

So with with 4 bookcases and sufficient books to pretty much fill them and a good number of cardboard boxes and a few tables and classroom chairs its almost a functional library. This afternoon the teaching staff meet with Ellinor to talk about loaning policies and a way to make them more equitable. We have always been more lenient with resident student than with those kids from the outside. We almost never let books go off campus. But we will use a time-tested method of Ms. Mwanza who has some books that she lets go home with kids from the outside. If they show they are responsible, take good care of the book and return it with some knowledge of what its about, then they earn the priviledge of borrowing from the library and can take them home. Otherwise they can check them out for classroom use.

More from the students:

Marvin is a good student but can get on your nerves. He never hears when you announce a change in activities. I announce to the class what we are going to do next and then turn to Marvin, who after three attempts to communicate with him, suddenly notices and always responds by saying "What?" Then you say it again and hope. Well the other thing he does, is draw. At the slightest hint of a break in the chain of events and he will clear his desk and bring out a drawing and be off in his own world. Or if you are changing from one subject to another, he will be in your face saying, "I am asking for a sheet of paper." "Why, Marvin?" "I want to draw." "Marvin, we are just starting English right now, you don't have time to draw." He gives you a disgusted look and slowly returns to his seat.

So its not surprising then when asked to write about his favorite thing to do, Marvin responded:
[the following is rended as closely as posible as it was written] My favorite thing to do is Draw. I like draw because Drawing is good For me when I draw it look nice.

To the same question Precious wrote: My favorite thing to do is read and playing and cooking and learning at school maths and spellings and Read. and science and s. s. [social studies] Because I like to cooking fish every day.

Ireen responded: My favorite thing to do is read because it is impetoune to lenrn some word.

Stella is a bit more (too) verbal: I like to read and my best subject is English. I like to make some clay [make things from clay]. I like to talk Story of my life and I like to do math. You know when we are doing english I like to answer the question. and attending church...

Blog prssing out of Africa, its my favorite thing to do.

When the teachers are taught...

This Friday the teachers of the Glassco School had their first session with Teacher Trainer Mamie Spillane from Tucson, AZ. She is visiting for two weeks to spruce us up a bit. Her background is working with ESL kids from around the world, but mostly Mexican children. She shared with us her skills and methods and brought us up to date on the new method which Ms Mwanza pointed out was once called the old method. Seems you can't keep a good method down and its come around again. We all walked out of that first meeting with a useful tool, a tested game that will keep the children's interest while they learn the alphabet and the sounds the letters make. On Monday she will visit each class and demo a new (old) classroom teaching technique especially useful when your class members are at very different levels of skills.



Whats the chief thing you need to know in order to get property in Zambia?

Since Chishawasha is seeking land on which to build a secondary school and also to build some commercial enterprises, Phillip has been in negotiation with a variety of different people.



The president of Zambia has ultimate control over property in this country and can give it to whom he pleases. This is not often done, except in cases of national interest.



But at our level, you need to know the Chief of the Village and his tribe of the area in which you are interested. But you start at a level below the chief with some gifts. In the past gifts were pretty standard, chickens, a goat and the like. Now days things are more complicated, depending on whether you are of the same tribe as the chief or not. This will determine whether you know what gifts are appropriate or not. Anyway the headman begins the negotiations and receives the initial gifts. With luck, you move up to the Chief who control the property. There may be standard gifts that are expected, or you may actually receive a list of things. You will be pointing out to the Chief all the benefits to the village and tribe that will come with your development of the property. You will include things like the employment of folks, educating their kids, provide an outlet for some local products, etc. So if Chief says yes, it goes to the local council who then will recommend it to the Ministry of Lands who will then issue you a deed for the property for from 14 to 99 years.



Phillip has been in talks with 3 different chiefs of three different tribes, none of which are of his tribe. That means he has dealt with at least 3 different headmen as well. Each step is an interesting story which perhaps he will tell us when he has time.



House number 7 report:

The walls are complete and doors and windows are being framed in and the roof lumber seems to be assembled. This house is growing faster than any of the others.

More Stories:

Story of me
by Ian

My name is Ian Chipwende. I stay at 10 Miles. I am 14 years old.

Mother left me when I was a baby. Now I stay with my grandmother. My father left me in 2003. My brother left me in 2006.

I used to think of my father when he was telling me that "tomorrow you are going to town with me." Now my grandmother tells me that I shouldn't think bad of him otherwise we're going to be mad. Now I remember when he was telling me that Education is good. Yes, its good. When I grow up, I want to be a ZESCO [power company] worker.

Now I like to play with my friends, football, long jump, high jump and to drive a car [?]. Everything I like now makes me happy.

That is the end of my story.


About Myself
by Precious

My name is Precious Shabtubi, I am 17 years old. I was born in 1992. I live in Zambia.

Long ago, I was staying with my mother and father in the village. When my mother was sick, I was crying. My Auntie came and said, "Precious, why are you crying?" "My mother is sick," I said. "Don't cry, your mother is going to be okay." said Auntie. When my mother died, I was sleeping with her.

When someone talked about my mother, I used to cry. I stay with my Auntie or uncle. My father died when I was young, he left me when I was 3. But now I have grown up.

I learn at Chishawasha School. My Auntie is keeping me like her child. I have one brother but no sisters.


The Story of my Life
by Stella Mumba

Hi, I just want to tell you about my life.

You know when I was 7 years old, my grandmom like to tell me stories and I was very proud of what my grandmom told me.

You know when I became 8 years old, my mother died. I was not happy and my grandmom said, "Stella, don't cry too much, you will make yourself sick."

"No," I said, "I just want to know where my mother is. Is she in heaven or perhaps in hell?" "No," my grandmom said, "don't think about that, your mother will be alive really so stop thinking about it."

And grandmom told me that I will buy you a pair of shoes and stocking, "everything you want." And the school you will start from is that Chishawasha Children's Home. My mother died in 2008. And that is the end of my story.

Benefits of the writing of these stories:

Well, these stories have gotten these kids writing in a way that nothing else has. About 99% of their writing is copying. They are not used to thinking about their responses. Any question you ask will be a regurgitation of the last facts they remember, regardless of the question. So we try working on creativity. This writing is a good start.

I can't judge if it has any psychological benefits.

I can judge that it is very helpful for the teacher to know to whom he is talking and not push too hard on a student that lost his/her last parent within the year, for example.

This is Sam blog pressing out of Africa and gathering stories.

A house leaps up from the earth.

House 7 seems to be jumping up from out of the ground. I don't see it often except by night walking to and from my supper. On weekends if I need a walk I'll pass by. Blocks are up about head level, it has a real presence now.

We are being visited by an Angel.

Ellinor Angel arrived via the wings of British Airlines and dived right in. Reading to children from the new books she brought with her. Today, she and I visited our school library and talked about what kind of books we need. Always the librarian, out of the few books we have, she managed to find a few more useful one for my class.

The school jumps a couple centuries forward:

The school will have its first computer, perhaps by Monday. A large step into the present.

The stories of the children:

Ms. Mwanza class has been doing their stories and I entered them on the computer (in the Chishawasha Office) so I could print them out, 'publish' them so to speak. So I was reading their stories in my class at my desk where my students wouldn't get to questioning me. I felt that they were too young and not ready for any heavy writing. But students can tell when I am interested in something and not sharing it. Quickly invented reasons would cause them to linger within view of my material. Finally I was nailed. "We want to do that," was all I could hear. So I agreed that we could try it, if they wanted. Since they wanted to do it, it took little urging on my part and I have been surprised by the results. Nothing as polished as the 7th graders, but a lot of effort and I think they have written more than they have ever been required to do.

It has not been all lightness and roses. Each of these kids has been through a lot and in helping them edit their work, a simple confusion of sentences, tenses, spellings, and general usage will unearth some painful memories with no warning. I would say to them, we don't have to do this, you can write about anything else you want. But none gave up. There are places that appear harmless where I know not to tread from previous attempts and tissues.

So here are some more 7th and 5th graders stories:

Brian is usually an eager student, better than average. He came forward to help me teach younger students during my vacation teaching stint. He seemed patient and attentive as a teacher. He is moody, but not unusually so for a teenager. He has been sick for a time and has not finished his story, so this is the first installment:

The Story of My Life

My name is Brian Banda. I live in Zambia.

I am 14 years old and am in grade five at Colin B. Glassco Primary School. If you want to come, you can find me. I have friends at home and at school. I like dancing and singing, but that is not my talent. My talent is basketball.

I was born in 1994 in November.

My mother died when I was in grade 1, but I wanted to keep my mind in school. I didn't see my father before he died. My mother told me that my father died before I was born and that made me cry.

When she was dying, my mother told me one word, "Don't give up on your life, learn how to be at home and school."

When both parents were dead, I was staying with my aunt. My aunt was good, but her husband was bad to me. One day my aunt was working and her husband was not. He wanted everything at the same time when I cooked for him, then he was refusing what I made. He told me that he was not the one who killed my parents. "So get out of my sight! Go away! I don't want to see you in this house again. I can kill you right now, get out!
[this is as far as Brian has gotten, I think installment II will be happier. Ed.]


I forget from time to time that my two diminutive students Ireen and Marvin are sister and brother and sometimes I am intruding in a family argument when they are not getting along. Ireen may be small, but she has sufficient attitude to make up for it. She knows what she wants and has a withering look, if she doesn't get it. He brother is a distracted class member who I think of as the echo. He repeats whatever you say, never quite paying attention. If he hasn't asked what I just said, I have to go over and give him separate instructions.

My Story
by Ireen Kangwa

Hi, I just want to tell you about my story. I am in grade 5. I learn at Chishawasha. My name is Ireen Kangwa. I am ten years old. I was born in 1998.

My mother's name is Memory Moyo. My father's name is Marvin Kangwa. My brothers name is Marvin Kangwa.

When I was three years old my mother left me. My grandmother's name is Ireen Mwtnogo. My grandfather's name is Tryson Moyo. I have four aunts, they are Fefb [best the ed. could do], Ruth, Bertha and Agnes. My uncles are Moses, David and Stanley. My mother was a good woman and father was a good man. When I finish my education I will be a teacher. Both my parents died, my mother in 2002 and father in 2005.

I like school so much and my brother also like school too. I have many friends at home and at school. I like my aunt because when I say something, she will give me what I want.

Thank you aunt and uncle.

Story of My Life
by Marvin Kangwa

Hi boys and girls, I just want to tell you about my story. I am 13 years old. I was born in 1996. I am from Chishawasha and am in grade five.

My mother's name was Sallely and my father's name was Marvin. When I was 10 years old, is when my mother died. I was so sad, she died in 2006 and my father died the same year.

My grandfather's name is Stanley. I have a sister named Ireen Kangwa.

My mother was a good mother and my father was a good dad. Both parents have left me.

I like school so much and so does my sister Ireen. I have many friends at school and friends at home. I like my aunt, my sister, grandmother and grandfather. When I finish my education, I will be a doctor. Thank you.

Several of the girls on their own have continued their writing by posting "My Dearest Mother" messages, expressing their love for their mother repetitively.

This is Sam blog-pressing out of Africa