Interview with a Volunteer

Name: Absalom Mbuende

Age: 23 years old

Occupation: Student, studying Business Administration

What’s your favourite part of the ASP? The activity I’m responsible for, which is the Bible Club.

What does it involve? Writing the material (currently we’re doing the Fruits of the Spirit) and presenting it through teaching, games, stories and activities.

Why do you like it? Not only do the children really love learning from the Bible, it makes a real difference in their lives.

How do you know? Recently someone who lives with one of the girls who attends the ASP told me what a great job we were doing. “I have seen her attitude and behaviour improve drastically,” I was told. “And she is constantly saying the memory verses from Bible Club, making sure she remembers them for the next week!”

My Job, My Life, My Passion

I have been a volunteer at the ASP since 2004. Through the Program I have been shaped to be not only a good teacher but also a good communicator, especially with children. I really enjoy working with children – I learn a lot from them!

I appreciate the stipend we receive in appreciation of our efforts. Deep down I pray that we can receive more so that I have enough to pay for my studies and can devote extra time to the Program. Many times I have to shrug off suggestions from church or family members who want me to find a “real job”. I also face a battle within myself – will I have enough funds to continue my studies or not?

Yet in all this, my comfort lies in the fact that I am investing in the lives of the children; not just academically but also spiritually. This really keeps me going: to influence the lives of these children who are the future.

The friendships I have with the other volunteers are phenomenal; together we form a team that is driven by passion for children as well as divine inspiration. As for our supervisors, they are our ‘parents’, our role models but – most strikingly – our friends.

This might not sound “too good to be true”, like the fairy tales we are used to, but to me it is my job, my life and my passion.

- Absalom Mbuende

End of Term 2!

Stats
The After School Program (ASP) has closed for Term 2. During June and July the average daily attendance was 74 children and the highest attendance was 99…

WOW! 99 children!! I remember when we started and thought that 35 kids were a lot…now we’ve almost tripled that number. I have a feeling we’ll be cracking the 100 barrier next term!

On average, 10 ASP children attend church at EBC on Sundays with 27 attending other churches. That means that about half of the children who come along to ASP don’t normally go to church or Sunday School.

Party!

How many can I take?

We had a closing party for the children on August 13, the last day of the ASP. We gave them cookies and juice; and also gave “goodie bags” to the children who had good attendance and good behaviour over the Term.

The Gr 1s and 2s enjoy their cookies and juice!

The teachers had a surprise because different children came and presented each of us with sweets and a note thanking us for our work with them! Now that was sweet…

George gives 'Teacher Tangee' a thank-you note