Opportunity Other – Short-term volunteer position Kampala, Central Region,
Uganda
THE OBJECTIVE WE WANT TO
SHARE
The Great Generation is
delivering the Second Buikwe District Teachers’ Forum in 2015 to facilitate
learning by developin
g teaching skills and techniques to inspire over 150
primary school teachers across 50 local schools. Volunteer participants’
teaching skills and experience, coupled with the motivation and innovation of
the local Ugandan delegates, can form the building blocks of an improved
education system. It is through increased quality of education that we believe
Ugandan communities can harness better prospects for their own development and
poverty alleviation strategies.
THE CHALLENGE
Uganda established Universal
Primary Education in 1997, promising free education for all and encouraging
parents to enroll their children in local schools. The subsequent rapid influx
of students has proven a great strain on the education system and has
overwhelmed teachers, who routinely cope with a pupil to teacher ratios of 48:1
in an environment already very limited in resources. Buikwe teachers often work
voluntarily, or receive a salary of up to only U$100/month, which is also
frequently delayed. They are intrinsically motivated to continue educating
Ugandan children, but would deeply value opportunities to learn and improve
upon their teaching skills, as well as to be inspired once again by the
teaching profession.
The Second Buikwe District
Teachers’ Forum is the subsequent edition of a conference-style learning
environment conceived to address some of the roots of the education problem, by
investing in building knowledge and skills that will remain to be further
developed locally in Uganda and achieve long-term development. It attracts an
unprecedented level of cooperation from the District Education Office and local
Members of Parliament, who support the initiative.
JOB DESCRIPTION
THE DATES: 8th – 22nd August 2015
A group of educators will design
and implement a teacher training forum for 150 local delegates in Buikwe,
Uganda. These Ugandan teachers are dedicated and determined, but would benefit
greatly from more opportunities to engage in peer-to-peer knowledge transfer
and sharing of perspectives. Innovative pedagogy, school and classroom
management, and creativity in resource scarce environments, enable a fusion of
international thinking that nurtures enduring and inspirational cross-cultural
support networks.
THE NEED
Skills for teaching the core
subjects English, Maths and Science will be a priority, along with techniques
for implementing effective school management strategies. The team will be
encouraged to draw upon local knowledge through troubleshooting and
brainstorming issues experienced in local education environments, identifying
key Ugandan expertise that can be shared during the Forum. To ensure continuity
of the Forum outcomes, strategies for standardising and cascading systems of
monitoring, evaluation and self-assessment will form key elements of the
project. Workshops will be based on a flexible and responsive approach to
evolving local needs, which are constantly monitored by The Great Generation
via local partners.
TRAINING
Volunteer participants will be
prepared for two weeks in Uganda by a Project Leader from The Great Generation,
who is well accustomed to the Ugandan reality, and a participant from the
Forum’s first edition in 2014. Content preparation will require approx. 20
hours of participants’ time in the months prior to travelling, with an option
to attend meetings remotely.
IN COUNTRY
On arrival in Uganda,
participants will have time to explore Ugandan culture in more depth before
travelling to the rural areas where the schools and teachers are located. Three
days will be spent in the classrooms to observe the environment and a number of
short end-of-term lessons, as well as meet the children who will be the
ultimate beneficiaries of improved local education. This will provide insight
into the realities of a Ugandan teacher’s day-to-day life. Returning to base in
Nkokonjeru, participants will then work together for two days to develop the
prepared materials for the Forum, based on their new knowledge and insights,
and ensure the development of relevant material with which to work when
collaborating with the Ugandan teachers. Monday of the second week will see 150
local teachers arrive for the first day of the five-day Forum, and the
beginning of a week of shared learning, and experience.
Compensation
details
WHAT WE CAN OFFER YOU
The Great Generation is a social
enterprise committed to challenging the prevailing issues felt by communities
living in tough economic and social conditions, while offering international
professionals the opportunity to develop personally and professionally through
committing their time and skills.
Volunteer teaching participants
will have a chance to:
- Work alongside and network with educators from varying
countries and backgrounds - Employ skills in a vastly different (developing world)
context and outside the usual comfort zone - Acquire new abilities and perspectives through
interacting with the local Ugandan delegates and fellow volunteer - Understand the education reality of a low-income,
emerging economy, and play a central role in the change sought by Ugandan
teachers and supporting district government - Re-connect with the love and commitment for your
profession - Enjoy an intense personal development period in an
inspiring land
LOGISTICS
Volunteers are asked to fundraise
for project participation and to finance their own flights. The programme costs
cover basic, safe and clean accommodation, meals, in-country transport, school
visits, dedicated project leadership, health and safety provisions etc.
For more information, please
e-mail info@thegreatgeneration.org
As Nelson Mandela said
“education is the most powerful weapon you can use to change the
world.”
