Donation gives access to reading materials

Nadine Ndayikeza, 12-year-old and her classmates from the eastern part of Burundi used to face an issue of lack of infrastructures. World Vision partnered with her community to address the issue. Libraries and classrooms were constructed. However one more issue remained; infrastructures were not equipped with enough teaching materials. Libraries were recently equipped; thanks to a World Vision’s GIK books donation.

“What is this?” Nadine asks with a terrific look first and a big smile, pointing at drawings of animals and other objects in a book recently donated by World Vision.

Since Gatete primary school was constructed by World Vision, in partnership with community, and handed over to Government, teaching materials were lacking, especially books.
Through a books GIK donation from Australia, World Vision was able to equip the 18 Burundi education provinces with the English text books donated.
“When we got these World Vision donation, we made a reading plan for all grades,” says Andre Gacumu, head teacher of Gatete School.
The donated books are richer than the books they use in class; Andre continues.
In grade 6, where Nadine studies, there is an English class on names of animals and things children find in their environment, like books, cloths and home furniture. Today it is a turn for Nadine’s class to use the library; school authorities decided children should complete what they learn in class by reading in the library.
Library visits are an awesome moment for the children; they enjoy discovering new things they did not see in class, look at different images in the books and joke around. Nadine goes through the rows of the library and moves from shelf to shelf, looking at a book that might be very interesting. After three shelves, she falls on a Macmillan Primary English book Two, opens it and sees drawings of domestic animals and other many things; takes it and invites her classmates to come over.
They sit on a bench and then Nadine starts quizzing them. With her small finger, she would point at a drawing of an animal or object and one classmate to tell the name. After 10 images, another child would take over. When child hesitates or mispronounces, the group explodes of laughter.
The government has so far supplied books up to grade 4; grade 6 in which Nadine studies, class has only one book that is used by teacher only.
Donated books reduced teachers’ work load too, the head teacher explains. Teachers used to draw things they want to teach on the blackboard. Now they no longer draw but just select books with images teacher wants to teach; he says. As a consequence, children are doing well in English class; Nadine sometimes borrows books from the library to go home with and comes back after she internalized all new learnt words.
She wants to be a teacher when she graduates; she says.
Donated books are not helping students only but also help teachers of nearby schools to improve their teachings; they borrow dictionaries to prepare their lessons, Andre Gacumu, head teacher appreciates.