Greg and Sophie Sangwine

We’ve written a lot about the pleasure it has been to work with the adults we work with over the past two years. We have 4 qualified teachers now thanks to donations from our lovely friends. That’s not all though. Our adult education is starting to grow in other ways. Just this week we have had a head teacher visit from a local school to see what we do, observe our new teachers and share their professional practices. We’ve also had teachers from a rural ministry who work with some of Zimbabwe’s poorest children.

The local teachers are so encouraged by the teaching of our teachers and it shows them that they can do it as well. They also cannot believe this service is offered free. Sophie and I really notice a lasting legacy that one way pre-school will create. We thanks God for continually blessing our work as this is all so well timed for our return to London next weekend. (26th/27th)

Time flies! It is hard work, we are tired and we have an insanely exciting journey ahead of us still to come in 2014 – but it is all happening very fast! We always mention how we never anticipated being at this point so soon since moving to Zimbabwe, but here we are after nearly 2 years with a fully sustainable Pre-school and a Primary School in the process to open in 6 months! Mix that in with a little baby Pistachio growing, meaning we are returning to the UK for 5 months – just before the Primary School opens! Leaving us 5 weeks to do 6 months preparations work…

Yet I am so thankful. I am thankful for Greg for being such a supportive husband and father to be and such an inspirational teacher to work alongside. I am thankful for our families for persevering in their encouragement of us and our work here together. I am thankful for our friends who constantly support us. But mostly, I am thankful to God for providing us with not only the initial opportunity to volunteer here in Zim, but for sustaining us whilst we are here and providing us with opportunities beyond our wildest imagination.

Today, we handed over our application for an extension to our visa permit. Big steps! Being provided with such a secure visa will enable us to think big, as God does for us, in terms of how to progress the Primary School and our time here. We ask you to prayerfully consider us as we go through this time, as it is likely the application will be on-going whilst we are out of the country.

An encouragement for us all is the faithfulness of children. I am astounded every day by the strength of the prayers the children pray each morning at school. We have been searching, for a few weeks, for the building plans for our primary school building, as we need them to apply for the permit. After numerous trips to the council offices, I asked our administrator today to go one more time to check with them and to be pushy! Whilst she was gone, I asked the children to pray a simple prayer ‘that auntie Pru would find the big picture of the building’. Well, they prayed, with strong voices and genuine desire in their hearts! Auntie Pru appeared just as the prayers finished, announcing they had found the plans and she was returning momentarily to collect them.

HUGE!! How humbled we are by the faith of these little children. If ever we need reminding of why we are here, we look to them!

So, be encouraged, prayer works! We are the first to admit that we cannot do this alone and seek prayer every day to support us. Please check back for updates on the Primary School, visas, baby and so forth! As usual, we love hearing from you, so please do contact us if you feel the urge!

As you will be aware from previous posts, I have been spending greater amounts of time visiting the Hatcliffe area in Harare. Home to a huge number of people in extremely poor circumstances, I have been working alongside the teaching community – namely 7 pre-schools, whose teachers were able to attend our teacher training programme in December 2013.

I was blessed to be asked back to Hatcliffe by the teachers, who requested that I provide them with some further Phonics training as they were keen to implement this into their curriculums, but were at a loss at how to start and whether they would be doing it correctly. It was humbling to be asked back and I was not prepared to witness just how many changes the pre-schools in the community have made since the teacher training in December.

I apologise now that due to circumstances at our own school, I was rushing out of the door when I left for Hatcliffe and forgot to take my camera, which I really regret. So I will be returning soon to photograph what I describe below as I am sure my words will not do their work justice- but I will try!

I began my February trip by ‘surprising’ one school with a visit. They were delighted that I had found their school and were so keen to show me all they had achieved between December and February. When the teachers left our teacher training course, we left them with the challenge to attempt to incorporate three things they had learnt form the course, into their schools. Well my goodness, they have! This first school ‘Farai’ (I think that is how it’s spelt, forgive me if I’ve misspelt), is run by a simply lovely Gogo with around 15 children. She delighted in showing me her new timetables on the walls, new menu, behaviour card system, child initiated work folders, look what I can do books, areas of learning signs and boxes around the room, name charts, puzzles and literacy word/sentence cards and work tables! What an INCREDIBLE achievement in such a short space of time. She has created so many resources to aid and support the learning of her children, and she has made them from any materials she can lay her hands on. Her folders are made from scrap cardboard and newspapers, her behaviour cards are small coloured squares from cereal boxes, her tables are upturned barrels with planks on top and all of this, in a room literally no bigger than the carpet area in my own classroom. We asked for three things to be implemented, she has done over 10! And wants to know how she can improve even further!

Humbled cannot even begin to describe how I felt.

Due to time we then walked (we had to abandon my car as the roads are seriously impassable! I said a small prayer that it would still be there when we got back!!) to the school where I would be leading the further Phonics training session. This school is run by a lovely lady named Clotilda (again, check my spelling!) whose children were sat around 4 new tables, each with child initiated activities happening – change number one, tick! She then excitedly asked to show me the other things she had implemented from the teacher training course. She showed the new charts, diary and timetables she had created and then led me to the smaller back room – which has been transformed into her different areas of learning. With signs on the walls documenting an ICT area – with toy laptop, Music area – with tin drums, Toy Shop Role Play – with tennis rackets and teddies, Interest table – with topic related items and the most exciting knowledge and understanding area – with a tray filled with water, stones and foliage to explore their current river topic! She explained she had stolen this idea from another lady who had been on the teacher training who had set up a similar set up in her classroom for their topic on the sea. INCREDIBLE! Not only has she managed to again implement more than three things from the training course, but the teachers within the Hatcliffe community, are working together as a unit to share resources and ideas to encourage creative teaching!

What they have achieved is beyond what I could have ever intended – and it’s only the beginning!

We then began the phonics training course, with 12 teachers from the Hatcliffe community, plus my trusted ‘Hatty’ sidekick Duggie and my teaching assistant Lorraine. The intention was to explain what phonics is and why we do it, how it is implemented into the curriculum, how to plan for it and how to teach it including a variety of activities. In terms of the training, it was relatively simple! The teachers were all keen to learn (less keen to be used as my guinea pigs when I asked for volunteers however! Adults do get nervous!).

The most important aspect of the session was the easiest for me. When teaching phonics, the simplest foundation is to ensure that when teaching the first basic sounds, you teach them correctly! This however, is where most of the Hatty teachers were getting it wrong – Ah! This is mainly due to the way the Shona language is spoken and there is certain emphasis on different sounds or letters. So we spent around 15 minutes, working our way through the alphabet, saying the letter followed by the phonic sound – which resulted in some extremely humorous attempts by some of the teachers who, for fear of getting it wrong, almost sounded like they were being strangled whilst they were saying the sounds! By the end, 90% of the teachers had 90% of the sounds well ingrained into their minds and mouths – not bad!

I provided each school with a small pack including the letter and sounds progression for phase 2, an example lesson plan and an example weekly plan. Most were keen to begin including a daily phonics lesson from next week and all said they would implement a full phonics session from next term. One teacher said she had been attempting phonics since the teacher training and that her class were able to recognise most sounds but could not yet read words – I nearly fell on the floor! This is a HUGE achievement for the children in this community and I was quick to reassure the teacher that for the length of time she had been teaching them the phonics, they were exactly where they should be progression wise, and that she should keep going! Wow.

So, alas, my time came to an end and I returned to One Way. But I have returned an ever changed person. It astounds me every time I visit; just how the small things we are doing for the adults that we work with or train, have such a huge impact on the children of this country. If we can continue to do what we are doing, with the same enthusiasm and with God guiding us to the time and places we need to be, just how much can we achieve in our time here??

(Sorry it’s such a long blog!)

Sophie x

My Mummy says I have to go to OneWayPreSchool and the place is awesome. It’s got these really nice people. Some of them understand me and they’re really cool but there’s these two white people from a place called England who think they’re really cool but I can’t understand them.

They put all these really fun toys around the classroom and then have the audacity to tell me to sit on the carpet and listen to them in a language I don’t understand. I mean do they not know what cool toys there are. I’m wasting my time singing the ABC’s – I could be playing in the doctor surgery role pay area. The other day I actually saved my dollies life-it’s leg was sick so I had to cut it off. I don’t get it though the crazy, scary little one shouted me. Does she not understand I’m training for the rest of my life here. She said the other children wanted to play with the dolly too and now I’ve spoiled it but to be honest I don’t care because that dolly would have died if it wasn’t for me- i’m a lifesaver!

Also, what I really don’t get is how I always have to wear my shoes. I’m inside and they want me to keep my shoes on…..confusing! I take them off because I’m inside like at home and the big, tall, scary man throws my shoes at me and tells me to put them on. I tell him that I’m inside and I don’t need my shoes but he just shouts ‘Speak english at me’ He’s rude.

But what I really hate is; why must I eat so quietly? It is much more fun to throw spaghetti at my friends and flick my mince across the floor. All these teachers do is ruin school. It’d be great without all these rules and things!

Peace out people…

Ello all! Ow are oo a-day? One way pre school is fun but I have these rather odd English teachers who I cannot understand. I keep telling them I need my Mummy and I want to go to the toilet and they just keep staring at me with a gormless expression as if I’m an Alien or something. I could teach my teachers. They keep saying speak English but It gets in the way of some time socialising in the toilets.

The tall one keeps telling bad jokes. We laugh but he’s the joke really. Most of us can’t understand what he’s rabbeting on about but we laugh because the other lady gives us a nice, shiny ‘ticker if we’re sitting nicely. They are putty in my hands. Most of the time all I do is suck my thumb and pick my nose but when I see those ‘tickers I’m good as gold. The little English teacher shouts a lot and speaks really fast. All I hear is ahhhhhh. I’m guessing in English that’s not good. One boy thought it was funny but the little one made him cry. She’s a meanie. But a nice meanie really. I think she loves me because she smiles at me but sometimes her eyebrows are all scrunchy and her nose turns up at me. I told her; “it’s ok-i didn’t poopy” but she doesn’t understand shona. Auntie Lorraine laughed at me and the little one gave her a look too. She’s just jealous she’s not in the joke.

They keep on teaching us phonics. And then they teach us english at the same time. The thing is they don’t always make sense. I don’t know why we learn it, shona’s fine!

Then they ask us to do a shona lesson after telling us not to speak Shona! Auntie Lorraine told me to feel some cotton wool because we’re learning about our senses but the little one shouted at me and told me stop fiddling! I decided to cry, ran out of the classroom to the tall one and he just laughed. It’s OK though because I have him wrapped around my little finger. He sits me on his knee, shuts me up with a ‘ticker and I get to miss my lesson. Haha- and he thinks he’s the boss. Think again English people I’m the boss of this school and if you try to stop me from my daily play routine of flicking bogies at the boys in my class they’ll be trouble.

NB: This blog was written by Greg in the third person and bears no reflection on any of the wonderful One Way Pre-School children. More third person writing was requested by Ella Glass during her visit. Hence the title!

When Sophie and I decided that the next path in our lives was moving to Zimbabwe to open a pre-school it was with a little apprehension we told people. First we told Sophie’s parents Mike and Sue. I was expecting a lot of questions and if or buts and wherefore’s but they didn’t come. We talked them through the pre-school vision and all the uncertainties that came with it and they listened intently. Then Sue just talked about what a great adventure it was and Mike said we had their full support. I was humbled by this. Mike did say during his Father of the Bride speech that Africa could be part of our future because of the passion Sophie felt towards it and maybe that was actually a prophecy.

When we then told my parents I was expecting even more questions. Neither of my parents had travelled to Africa before and I was sure they’d have some reservations. They didn’t. My Mum said she was so proud of us for taking on such a big challenge and said she thought we were the perfect couple to do it and my Dad nodded to what my Mum was saying and said the normal Dad line of “if you ever need anything don’t hesitate to ask us”. They were also pleased that Mike and Sue approved because they both trusted their judgement due to the fact they’d previously travelled to Zimbabwe.

It’s the reassuring attitude of our parents which is why I think we’ve been able to see the growth we’ve had in such a short space of time. We always believed in ourselves but to have that support and belief from others has been greatly humbling. There are many challenges in Africa that we are lucky to take for granted in England. For example I’m writing this in a power cut and I boiled the water for the cup of tea I’m currently sipping on a calor gas camping stove. We’re the lucky ones though. We always have water at our house through a bore hole supply. We shower in drinking water! Some of Harare (our school included) can go weeks without a water supply and we often see people carrying water so they can bathe, flush toilets and clean their houses. It’s not easy!

The thing is our lives are made so much easier by the love and support we receive by our friends and family at home. I think you have to be an oversees worker to truly appreciate how grateful you are for a financial donation, a kind facebook comment, an e.mail or peoples prayers when you are so far away. Last night Sophie and I were saying those things are motivators. We’re here working for One Way Ministries on a schools project because we believe it is what God wants for us. I’m sure for that reason only we’d be here trying our best but when people believe in us enough to invest in us we feel a new sense of motivation to also make sure their investments are not wasted.

Thank-you to everyone who invests in us in anyway. You are our Mr.Motivators and we couldn’t do this without you.

I’ve said before that one of my favourite parts of working in Zimbabwe has been offering stable full time employment for people. It was recently estimated that half of our church of a little over 300 is without work. It is because of this that being able to offer full time employment to 6 people is one of our favourite achievements. Auntie Prudence was stuck in a job where she wasn’t paid regulary and could not rely on her salary and Auntie’s; Betty, Lorraine, Patience and Rumbi had been out of work for a while. Lorraine and Patience graduate as qualified pre-school teachers in April and we’ll be employing one of Lorraine’s classmates then too. Wilson who is our security guard was making ends meet by doing a little bit of gardening and he’s also been helping us out with ours too. They are amazing people and they’re the reason we can think of extending our school to a primary school. They are very capable of doing an amazing job when we leave our two pre-school classes to them. They deserve this opportunity for all their hard work.

Rumbi was the first parent to register her child; Keith in our school last year. She really believed in us and registered Keith on a day where Sophie and I were painting the classroom and we currently had no tables, chairs or equipment. At this time we were still nervously praying over receiving our shipping. (It seems like such a long time ago) She just said she wanted him registered here, she said she believed in us because she heard us share our vision in church. A few weeks into the first term Rumbi told us that she would like to come to volunteer at the school and we jumped at the chance to have her work with us. She volunteered with us once a week for two full terms. She’s got an amazing relationship with the children and an incredibly positive attitude. She showed herself to be a great role model and clearly an amazing mother because Keith is lovely, as is her older son Anesu, so when an opportunity to hire her arose, we grabbed it!

In September our cook Betty had an accident on the bus on the way to work and injured her foot really badly. I literally had to make Betty not come to work and she could not believe she would still get paid. It posed an issue though because I certainly wasn’t going to cook for 55 children. That morning Rumbi came to talk to me to say her husband (who works in the army) had been demoted and his salary had been severely cut so she was going to need to take Keith out of school. I told her not to worry about fees and he could come for free. Sophie and I said we’d sort that out because of our friendship with her. That day our administrator cooked and was certainly overworked so I asked Rumbi if she’d cook for the rest of the week. Like Betty, I had to force her to let me give her money for her work because she felt like she will always owe me. On the Friday of that week Sophie and I decided that with graduation, possible teacher training courses and Patience and Lorraine’s courses that an extra pair of hands around the school would be hugely beneficial so we offered her a full time job.

I wanted to share this story because Rumbi loves work because she said she’d always felt she was dumb. We’re really lucky in England that we have every opportunity to complete our studies and begin careers. Rumbi, like Lorraine never had those opportunities and finished school way before she ever wanted to. In April Rumbi will also go back to school to become a pre-school teacher and she’s going to be an amazing one too.

Your donations really do change lives. As well as being able to afford to support families who wouldn’t be going to school otherwise, we can offer stable jobs and careers to these wonderful people. The teacher training certificate in early childhood development and subsequent diploma are less than a year long and cost just $60 a month (£37.50) Those donations have literally changed the lives of those ladies and their families. On behalf of them I thank you all from the bottom of my heart for the opportunities you are providing for them.

Finally, this week I found out that Charles (Rumbi’s husband) used to be a contractor and worked with builders, electricians and other workers. He’s offered his services to us in our primary school renovations. We’ll be paying him for his work but he’ll be doing it for much cheaper than we’d have to pay otherwise.

We thank God we met these wonderful people and we’ll be continuing to try our best to not only support Zimbabwe’s children but continue to educate these adults who will educate Zimbabwe’s next generation.

The first week of the second year of One Way Pre School is over and it’s been a mixture of emotions. We are delighted that we have filled 59/60 spaces in the first week, what an incredible achievement. Naturally this means the first week has been very busy, with many new faces and many young children – there were tears a plenty, and yet just over half the children have started, most are expected today and tomorrow! So we are excited for this new term, but already feeling tired – the start of term always takes a little more energy to settle everyone down. We also feel proud that the school has survived its first year and begun the second with such vigour, we are astounded to see how the Lord is working over the project!

A part of me feels a little sad, we came to Zimbabwe with the intention of support the local church with opening their preschool, which we have now done. I feel a little bit redundant when I look at just how well the preschool staff can run the school. Not necessarily needing anywhere near as much support as they did a year ago! Yet I feel so joyful when I look at the workforce behind the school and see their drive and passion and faith in the work they are doing. It is a credit to them that I feel I could leave them to run the school and teach the classes without me, they have worked so hard!

The sustainable stage the preschool is in is beneficial to both Greg and I, as it means we are able to look to the future and prayerfully consider our next steps. There are a few projects in the pipeline which we are hoping to meet with the church leadership about in the coming week or so, including a Primary school to open in 2015 and a café/ community centre for the local community.

Both Greg and I have always believed that when we, and family and friends, asked God whether we should move to Zimbabwe, God said Go. We also believe that when it is our time to leave, God will say Go! We are keen to stay here for as long as there is a project here for us to work towards – and with enough time to make those projects sustainable.

As previously mentioned, these projects could come into fruition in the near future, or not. We are open to all possibilities and ask you if you will kindly consider praying for us over the coming weeks as we consider our immediate and longer term futures. We are excited to see what God has in store for us! Please do contact us with any words of encouragement should you have any!
x