It’s not every day a person gets to witness firsthand the difference they are making in the lives of children half a world away, but a group of Vernon ladies enjoyed that very blessing when they travelled to Rwanda earlier this year.
Sherrie Mann, Sharon Sakakibara and Barb Elgin all traveled to Kigali for the first time where they met the children and teachers Wellspring Foundation for Education supports.
Shirley Malnis is the partner engagement co-ordinator for The Wellspring Foundation for Education, and has visited the African nation before, but she is always touched by when she sees the faces of the children Wellspring is helping.
Wellspring officially began in July 2004 in response to the compelling vision of Rwandan Christians to rebuild their country following the 1994 genocide.
Founders Jeffery Kormant and Richard Taylor were committed Christians who were born and raised in Africa. After graduating from Trinity Western University, they went to Rwandan with a vision for an entirely different type of education system that would empower a new generation of Rwandan leaders. Since then, many committed and gifted teachers, leaders, support staff, volunteers and donors have embraced the vision and joined the team.
Amid the bustling metropolis of Kigali are numerous schools, filled with young minds - the future of the African nation.
"The people are beautiful," said Mann. "I have never seen so many smiling faces."
Sakakibara said no matter what school they went to, they were greeted by the huge smiles and laughter of children.
Wellspring operates a program called Ignite 48, which teaches teachers better methods of instruction and sponsors classrooms.The Vernon women spent their time visiting schools, witnessing the works God can do when people call upon his name.
For $55 a month, you can literally change the lives of Rwandan youths by sponsoring a classroom, supporting the teaching program and by opening up doors to education some children do not have access to.
Like the system itself, the classrooms differ greatly from what is found in North American schools.
The Rwandan schools have open classrooms, long tables for desks and up to 60 children per class. All struggle with limited resources.
Malnis said Wellspring works with materials found locally and shows the teachers how to find the supplies they need rather than having them become dependent on supplies being shipped in.
The classroom schedule is broken down into two parts with some students taking in the morning session and others the afternoon classes.
“They go to school and then they go home and work in the fields or wherever,” said Mann, adding the students she met ranged from Kindergarten to Grade 6.
While it is not uncommon for North American youths to balk and complain about having to go to school, Malnis said many Rwandan youths seem eager to get an education, appreciating the privilege of attending class.
“The most common thing we saw were huge smiles on their faces. That is largely due to Ignite 48. One of the students told us how different things are now, how much better they are. They want to go to school now,” said Mann.
Before Wellspring began to train teachers, the school system was described as Draconian.
It was not uncommon for a teacher to use a strong stick to enforce discipline and there was virtually no relationship between student and instructor.
But after attending training sessions through Wellspring, teachers are more engaged with the students and the rising grades reflect the new method of teaching.
“The teachers also teach other teachers,” said Mann. “They go back to the schools and help the teachers to teach. The teachers are so appreciative of learning a new way of doing things..”
After returning from a Wellspring educational session, one teacher got down on his knees and begged the forgiveness of the children for the way they had been treated.
"It became a much more interesting job for the teachers once they learned how to teach," said Malnis. "You could really see the love between the kids and the teachers."
Elgin said Wellspring also helps Rwanda educators to use materials they can find locally and the strength of the Canadian dollar means a financial donation here is magnified many times in Rwanda.
Annual trips are arranged to Rwanda, but you do not have to travel the globe to make a difference. Donations to Wellspring can, and does, change lives.
For more information on Wellspring, go to www.thewellspringfoundation.org (North American site) or www.wellspringrwanda.org (Rwandan site).
