Dear Reader,
Today we visited David Kaunda National Technology School. It is a boarding school here in Lusaka, Zambia. I found this school really interesting because I attend a boarding school myself. I was partnered up with a student by the name of Bertha Chishumba. She is in grade 12 and she is finishing school in 3 months. She has been at David Kaunda since she was in 10th grade. After David Kaunda, she wants to go to the University of Zambia and become an investment banker. She also wants to join the fashion industry. Bertha is a very smart individual and I was honored to be paired with her.
What I found very interesting is that she takes 8 classes a day, for 40 minutes. Her subjects include Math, English, Spanish, Technology, Chemistry, Physics, Biology, and History. At my school (The SEED Public Charter School) we only have 4 classes a day, but 7 subjects a year. Also, as a boarding school, David Kaunda allows their students to stay on campus on the weekends with parental consent. I find that very interesting since some of the students live very far from the school, just like Bertha, and they have the option of staying in a safe environment other than walking home.
Another thing I noticed that completely blew my mind was that unlike SEED they do not have Life Skills Counselors (LSC’s) or Resident Assistant’s (RA’s) to watch over the students while they are in the dorms, but they have 1 student for each dorm who they call the “Head Boy/Girl” This student has an office. When I went to see the dorms, the office was full of posters related to all of the different subjects. I was so amazed that these teenagers who are just like me have so much self control and respect for each other.
The students at David Kaunda had of different view on education and success. Education to them was more than coming to school everyday, but actually learning something even with the absence of a teacher. While walking through the campus, I stopped past a class with no teacher. The students were in their seats, quiet, working, with nothing but instructions on the chalkboard and a diagram. They went straight to work without a teacher being present for the entire class period. I know that in the past when my teacher has not been present and there is no substitute then no work is taking place. Today I learned that is no excuse for me not to do my work. Also after seeing this I realized that these students are motivated, pushed to develop their own study habits, and are striving to be the best in all of Zambia. As I said before the students at David Kaunda are very intelligent. For example, Bertha has read every book in the Twilight series – a series with a very complex plot – and is waiting for the new book. I was very impressed on how self motivated the students were.
I just can not believe that this journey must end so soon. In two more days I will be saying goodbye Zambia, and hello Mommy. I am really going to miss this place and all of the people in this group, both students and teachers. I will also miss all of the people I have met and all the youth I have interacted with, or helped. It was so much fun while it lasted, and I will be back in a couple of years.
With much gratitude,
Ty’Ronn
Ty’Ronn