"In January 2010 I escaped a snow bound England and went out to Freetown, Sierra Leone, with Mission Drect to help with a teacher training project. Most of the teachers have had little or no training or experience and are faced with classes of up to 80 children with virtually no resources. Many have had no pay for several years. But they are desperate to teach to the best of their abilities and the children are keen to learn, as it will help them escape poverty. We hoped to transform the way they teach by giving training, and by working along side them for a fortnight showing them how to teach in small groups, how to utilise music and get the children telling stories and involved in drama and ceative activities. Through this trip we aimed to offer some of the world's poorest children the best possible education and leave a lasting legacy with the teachers.
It was a far tougher challenge than we realised. It is one thing preparing materials in this country with ready access to resources and modern technology. But it is quite another matter when preparing after a day of working in the heat, dust and dirt and then coping with spasmodic electricity and water supplies. But by the end of the two weeks we all felt that, tough though it had been, by God’s grace it had been a very worthwhile time, both for us and for the teachers and children."
Sue Hookway