My Zambian Life

“Learning at Taonga Market” is an amazing educational program that I have the privilege of being involved with for the next two years.

Some 800,000 Zambian children are currently not involved in any type of formal education. Many of these children are orphans (mostly due to AIDS) or live in areas that simply don’t have the resources for school buildings or teachers, not to mention electricity.

“Learning at Taonga Market” (LTM) is a distance-learning program developed by the Zambian Ministry of Education. LTM is broadcast on a durable, specially designed self-powered radio, providing elementary age children with math and English curriculum in an engaging way.

My Role

This is where I come in. The Peace Corps has been involved with this project for the past two years, providing "Community-Based Education Developers" (my new title) to deliver and support the program in rural areas.  PCVs work with the Ministry of Education, their district-level staff, and Center Support Communities within the villages.  I'll be involved with developing plans to monitor and evaluate the program, mentor trainings, and forming committees within the villages to create and sustain their new learning centers. 

Another major part of my work will be HIV/AIDS and "Life Skills" education.  The radio programs contain lessons on these topics as well.  I'll learn much more about this aspect, however, during training. 

I am so honored and excited to be a part of this program! As I mentioned before, many of the students are orphans, and nearly 50% of the students are girls. In a country where the average lifespan has declined to the age of 38, mostly due to AIDS, hopefully this program will give the students more opportunities and even inspire some of them beyond what they would have known.

In Only 2 Years...

Studies conducted by the Zambian government have already shown that LTM students score as well as those in formal educational settings, and math scores are actually higher. Studies show that LTM can cover grades 1-4 in only two years.  How inspiring is this?!

Hanks is the Freeplay Foundation US Ambassador 

“The extraordinary technology of the Freeplay Foundation’s Lifeline radio can bring vital information to isolated people all over the world,” said Mr. Hanks. 

“For example, right now there are more than 13 million children orphaned by AIDS.  Most can’t attend school and can’t afford batteries or electricity to power a radio. 

The Freeplay Foundation can hand these children a lifeline to the outside world by giving access to radio programs that teach them how to grow their small garden plots to feed themselves, take care of their chickens or goats, and prevent deadly diseases like malaria and AIDS.” 

(courtesy of http://www.globalgiving.com/pfil/600/projdoc.doc)