Cochrane teacher Nicole Taylor has bid farewell to friends and family, embarking on a one-year journey on Dec. 11 to teach less fortunate children at the Kisaayke Primary School in Gayaza, Uganda.
“I’m supported by the Change of Heart Foundation,” said Taylor. “One of the goals of this foundation is to assist children who have no access to primary schooling rural areas in Uganda. Their hope is to develop a learning environment in which content becomes real and applied.”
Taylor took with her an abundance of elementary school supplies, collected from donations. People are still being encouraged to contact the organization if they have such items as laptops, board games, cards, children’s books, clothing and running shoes to spare, as they will be shipped out to the school at a later date.
She cited Cochrane Minor Soccer as one of the biggest local contributors to this mission.
The students of the Ugandan school are between 5-14 years of age, with an average literacy level that is very low. The three-room school contains minimal materials and seating areas, as the children lie or sit on the floor and use benches as writing surfaces.
For Taylor, her challenge as an educator lies in her ability to effectively combine cultures and learning tactics.
“The hardest part will be crafting and designing a learning environment, with my Ugandan colleague, which will combine academic education — core subjects — with practical application that be of value to the children,” explained Taylor.
The reward for this Cochranite is the joy she receives from watching her pupils grow and learn. Increasing access for the children living in the surrounding rural areas equates to a job well done.
“When children in the immediate rural area have access to a learning environment which assists them to see the value of knowledge when applied and practiced in real situations,” answered Taylor, when asked about her main objective over the next year.
To learn more about the Change of Heart Foundation, contact [email protected].
