mweruka junior
I have returned home to the fresh mountain air of Durango, Colorado. A summer has come and gone, but the life lessons and memories will always be near. While we were working at the Mweruka Junior School, laughter was shared, knowledge was gained, and lives were changed. The students can continue their education because of the new classroom that was constructed. The primary five students now have the opportunity to advance to primary six, which is equivalent to our seventh grade.
junior girls
Students in Uganda finish primary school after primary seven, our goal is to build one more classroom so every student at Mweruka Junior School has the opportunity to complete primary school. When students finish primary school, the opportunities to succeed and make an impact on their community increases dramatically. Their knowledge of English is at a conversational level, which makes business and a connection to the rest of the world that much easier.
When a student finishes primary school their aspiration for knowledge and learning is that much higher; they seem to be more dedicated to continue their education to a secondary level. Primary education is so important in third world countries, in that an educated person has an unparalleled opportunity to make an impact on their family, community, country and even the world.
My favorite memory was a lesson plan I taught to the primary four students. We read the book Whoever You Are by Mem Fox. I believe in incorporating a literacy component into every lesson; whether it is math, science or social studies, literacy brings learning to life. The book describes the similarities and differences of children all around the world. Even though their homes, schools, languages, skin color, and cultures are different; people all over the world share the same joys, pains, goals, and dreams. Mem Fox's message in this book is to connect with children while they’re young. Teach them about the similarities between the peoples of the world, not the differences.
After the book, the students were introduces to paint, they have never painted before. We painted Unite Our World and a globe on an old banner while each student painted their hands in a different color and added their hand print to the banner. We discussed what it means to unite and that we are all different, but inside we are all human beings searching for peace. If the youth can unite across the world, we can create positive change. class photo
The reactions from the students were priceless. They felt that their life was worthwhile and that they can unite with people to make change. Their hand prints showed their dedication and passion for knowledge, and that is the greatest gift we can give to people around the world, the gift of an education.
Unite Our World is accomplishing great things in Uganda, but more importantly we are impacting people's lives everyday. It is bringing people together locally and globally for the sole purpose of helping others. Unite Our World is helping and uniting people through music, art, education, and most importantly activism. We need to get up, get out, and do something to unite our world.
Brittany Lang is a Primary School Teacher from Durango, Colorado and Unite Our World Voluneer. She also leads a Durango-based Youth-Awareness Group.
