English Classes are Growing!!

What began 2 years ago as English classes for the staff of the Children's Home, has grown quickly and is reaching out into the community. Each year new classes were taught that included women in the community and parents of our students, as well as summer sessions for students.

Kinyarwanda is the traditional language and English is the second language all children learn in school. Many teens, young adults and parents dropped out of school by 6th grade because they could not afford the school fees. Now they realize the importance of learning English and are thrilled to have this opportunity.

Felix came as a volunteer for the adult education program. He continued his part-time position teaching at a University so comes to our school with excellent credentials. It was decided that there were many more opportunities for him besides the adult education class so he was hired to also be in charge of the English classes at our school.

He is currently teaching our teachers in an advanced program daily from 11:30-12:15 during their lunch hour. This is to improve their English and teach them how to teach English to their preschool and elementary age students.

From 2:00-3:00 he teaches beginners from the community as well as our staff and from 3:00-4:00 there is an advanced class.

Weekly English classes were also added to students curriculum in our sewing and dental assistant training programs.

And most recently Mama Arlene was contacted by GT Bank, a local bank where she does her banking, to teach English after banking hours to their employees. She anticipates as word of GT Bank's program gets around more banks and some insurance companies will contact her to use Urukundo's English Program. Building relationships with those in our community is a high priority to Mama Arlene.

Photos:
*Community classes
*Staff - Therese, our sewing instructor and Cecelia, our cook
*Some of our teachers
*Sewing students and trainers.