Reading

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From trauma to triumph

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From trauma to triumph

Josephine, a compassionate 14 year old student at Joy Grace Community School, remembers what life was like for her before she learned how to read just a few years ago. She attended another school in Ng’ombe where she was never taught how to read, but was often punished for not knowing how. She says her teachers were so mean to her, and twice she was held back a grade. That experience was so traumatic that she lost the desire to learn anything.

When her mother found out about Josephine’s struggles and the school’s poor treatment of her, she transferred her to Joy Grace Community School. When she started 5th grade here, Josephine wouldn’t talk to her classmates for fear that they would laugh at her for not knowing how to read.

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When Joshua grows up

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When Joshua grows up

When you sit down with Joshua, one of the first things you’ll learn is how much he loves to sing and write music. He will gladly rap for you an original song, and trust us, the boy has talent! When he grows up, he wants to be a gospel singer.

Joshua joined Fountain of Life Community School two years ago as a 4th grader. When he joined, he didn’t know how to read. Unfortunately, this is the reality for most children in Ng’ombe. They may be going to school every day, but never learn how to read while there.

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Reflections from a Volunteer

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Reflections from a Volunteer

Over the past month, Cynthia, a student from the University of Zambia who is currently studying literacy and languages, has been interning with us. She has helped us create educational resources for our teachers, developed new literacy resources for higher level readers, and conducted many of our annual reading assessments. When reflecting back on her time with us, this is what Cynthia had to say.

“Impact One Initiative is indeed transforming lives through the power of education. As I have come to witness, this is definitely coming to fruition; one school, one teacher and one child at a time.

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Learning at the Library

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Learning at the Library

This month, students began using our new Library for the first time. If I could bottle up the joy here and send it to you, I most certainly would! While at the Library, students have had the opportunity to read books, put together puzzles, and draw pictures. A few things I’ve observed...

Many of our students have never seen a puzzle. It is so much fun to watch them twist and turn each piece, seeing how colors and shapes line up together. This one little activity is growing and shaping their brains in new ways. 

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Extreme Makeover: Library Edition

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Extreme Makeover: Library Edition

The atmosphere is buzzing with excitement! We completed the renovations to our Library and have been busy moving in this month. Building furniture, buying furniture, arranging furniture… and then filling up furniture with books and resources, the place is coming together beautifully. For the past two weeks, our growing team of 5 staff (more on that news later) has been working from our new office within the Library. It’s so much fun to be working in a space we’ve created and to be dreaming of all the ways we can use it.  

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Follow Up Makes All the Difference

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Follow Up Makes All the Difference

This week, I stood in the back of a 2nd grade classroom and observed the Literacy lesson. Using handmade flashcards, the students reviewed all of the letter sounds they've learned complete with fun actions. Then one by one, the students came up to a handmade letter board and created their own 3 letter words with the sounds. Together, the class sounded out each 3 letter word. Tears filled my eyes as I watched these children reading! Just last year, if I had stood in the back of this same classroom, not a single child would have been able to identify letters or their sounds, much less make any words from them. Our Teacher Training and Mentoring is making an incredible impact in the classrooms.  

Impact One Initiative is a 501(c)(3) charitable organization.  
All donations are 100% tax-deductible.