Two weeks of classes at GitegaInternationalAcademy have been
completed, and nobody has died! We’ve done it. The abstract idea has become a
reality. The administrative brainstorming has been put into practice. This
thing is actually happening, and loads of people in Burundi want to be a part of it. We
were hoping for at least 20 students, but for grades 7 and 8 we now have 88
students! There is nowhere else in Africa I
would rather be working, because this academy is an amazing tool for extreme
long term changes.
Registration Day
Showed up to my classroom on day 1...no chairs or tables...this is Africa! Ha, I had tables and chairs by day 2
How do we think this school will change Africa?
Well, based on many conversations, I have gathered that education in Burundi is
extremely structured to teach students to be good robots. The teacher lectures,
the student doesn’t ever ask questions, and they are expected to regurgitate
the material for an exam. Yes, this same thing happens in some places in the US, but it is
our objective to teach our students at GIA to think critically. They are
already learning to ask questions, to think outside of the box, and to be
creative in their school work. We’re hoping this helps them to become great
problem solvers and leaders who can raise this nation from its current state as
the least competitive economy in the world. Read Article Here >>
Doyen, one of my best students
Elsie, another great student
The best part about working for this academy is our emphasis
on integrity. This has been a major theme, even in my science and typing courses, as we are in one of the most corrupt nations in the world (for
instance, even though we have established the best boarding school in the
nation, we still don’t have official approval from the ministry of education
because it seems that they may want a little extra something from us), and because I have already
caught a few students cheating. My students are grades 7 and 8, but they range
in age from 11 to 20. This is because for many people, education had to be put
on hold during the war. But it’s cool to have such a range in age, and I have
already been able to start mentoring a few of my students. It is my goal to
shepherd them towards a desire to develop solid character.
Zack teaching about the Abacus
Yesterday I caught 3 students cheating in one of my classes.
It was extremely sad for me, and after the quiz the whole class and I had an
amazing heart to hear about integrity. I then told them that I love all of
them, and that this is why I must discipline those who act out of line. We
talked about how sometimes God disciplines people because he wants them to
repent and live full lives. So I think that the students are starting to get
it. We don’t discipline them by hitting them, like most other schools in Burundi do, but
we are hoping to engage their hearts through conversation and mentoring. This
is how they will know that we love them. This is how we are hoping God uses us
to raise excellent leaders of integrity. So we will give it our best shot. And
we believe that we can change the world for the better. If you don’t think you
can do the same, I think you’re listening to the wrong voices.
My tough quiz
Watch the Youtube video above about our vision
Oh yeah, and I’m also the running coach. We’re training for
the Rio Olympics…no joke.
And we're still managing to have fun in our free time...
Students arrive at GitegaInternationalAcademy on Monday. This is the first English speaking boarding school in Burundi, and I’m proud to be a founding member. The East African Community has adopted English as its official language, so GIA is making a huge step to develop future leaders for the nation of Burundi. At the Academy, I’ll be teaching Biology, Chemistry, Physics, and Typing. Bring it on! But first, I need to be rejuvenated.
Front Gate of the Academy
My Teaching Schedule
A group of 4 guys, who are recent graduates from Colorado
University and who have been travelling the world for a year, just showed up to
volunteer for 2 months. They have spent time in Haiti,
the Dominican Republic, Belize, Fiji,
Australia, Singapore, India,
Uganda, and now Burundi. In 2
months they will head to Zambia,
and eventually South Africa,
where they will end their trip. These guys claim that the prettiest place they
have been is a tie between Fiji
and Burundi.
It’s gorgeous in Gitega. So I think I will sign off the internet and will go
run up a few mountains with them right now. You should too. Go explore and hang
out with God in nature.
Ryan, one of the Colorado guys, with a kid we found on the street wearing a U of Colorado shirt
“One final paragraph of advice: do not burn
yourselves out. Be as I am—a reluctant enthusiast….a part-time crusader, a
half-hearted fanatic. Save the other half of yourselves and your lives for
pleasure and adventure. It is not enough to fight for the land; it is even more
important to enjoy it. While you can. While it’s still here. So get out there
and hunt and fish and mess around with your friends, ramble out yonder and
explore the forests, climb the mountains, bag the peaks, run the rivers,
breathe deep of that yet sweet and lucid air, sit quietly for a while and
contemplate the precious stillness, the lovely, mysterious, and awesome space.
Enjoy yourselves, keep your brain in your head and your head firmly attached to
the body, the body active and alive, and I promise you this much; I promise you
this one sweet victory over our enemies, over those desk-bound men and women
with their hearts in a safe deposit box, and their eyes hypnotized by desk
calculators. I promise you this; You will outlive the bastards.”
