Education

Torgyle Primary SchoolFrom Forodhani Children’s Home in Zanzibar, to Torgyle Primary School in Swaziland, all Tenteleni Projects aim to support education in the communities that host them.

Supporting education encompasses many different roles and does not mean undertaking one task for the period of a project. It can be a very discreet activity, such as spending social time with learners and staff or the more obvious, of classroom teaching and support.It is also true that tasks undertaken by a volunteer will vary from Project to Project and even from Placement to Placement. Many will find themselves at the front of a classroom battling with the national curriculum, others will work in informal education where there is no curriculum; others still will work with specific groups such as learners who are falling behind in class, or students and teachers who want extra help in specific areas.

Although a volunteers role’s may vary greatly and at first appear, well somewhat scary, volunteers will find that the reception they receive is not. All projects have a thirst to learn about individual volunteers and their experiences, and volunteers are sure to find they feel exactly the same way about the lives and culture of the people they work with and their surrounding community. This is also what Tenteleni means when it says ‘education’. The aim is to share experiences, know how, ideas and even family photos, firstly with educators and then pupils, in a shared goal to simply learn more. This can take place in the structured forum of a classroom as a teaching assistant, by helping to develop and maintain a debate club, with a kick around on a playing field or in informal exchanges and discussions. In these different ways (and others), Tenteleni volunteers are supporting the teaching and learning experience of staff in their Placemeeducation1.jpgnt, along with the pupils.

Tenteleni provides information and activity packs, along with UK and in-country training, all of which are designed to navigate you through the different scenarios you may encounter and are full of tips, background information and anecdotes from previous volunteers.

If you have questions, comments or suggestions, please contact the Education Coordinator, Claudia Gilham

All Education packs are available to current volunteers by registering a website account. To register, click on the link at the top of the page and create a new account. All packs are then available through the Volunteer Information page.