The Times-Advocate, 2002-10-16, Page 16Trip to Uganda beneficial for both sides
By Scott Nixon
TIMES-ADVOCATE STAFF
SEAFORTH — For
Alma Westlake, the
African country Uganda
became a reality last
summer instead of “a
place on the map.”
Westlake, of Zurich,
worked in Uganda for five
weeks in the summer as
part of a Canadian
Teachers Federation
Project Overseas program
that saw four Canadian
teachers work in
Ugandan schools to help
teachers there. The
Canadian Teachers
Federation has been
sending teachers to Third
World and underdevel-
oped countries for 40
years to share education
theories and strategies.
Westlake, president of
the Avon Maitland
District School Board’s
local for elementary
teachers, was chosen in
February to go to
Uganda. Westlake admits
she didn’t know much
about the country up
until that point and start-
ed doing research to pre-
pare for her July trip.
Travelling with her were
one teacher each from
Alberta, New Brunswick
and Ontario.
Leaving July 4, the
group took a 20-hour
flight to Entebbe,
Uganda, where they
spent the night before
moving the next day to
Kymbogo University in
the nation’s capital,
Kampala, where the
group spent most of its
time.
Westlake said her
immediate impression on
arriving in Uganda was
how dark the streets
were at night as they lack
street lights, something
she gradually became
accustomed to.
The Ugandan govern-
ment started a program
four years ago called uni-
versal primary education,
which saw a dramatic
increase in the country’s
students. Before the pro-
gram was implemented
only four children per
family could go to school
for free; the rest had to
pay. Once the new pro-
gram allowed all children
to attend school free, the
country’s student popula-
tion soared from two mil-
lion to over six and a half
million. Eighty per cent of
the funding for the pro-
gram comes from the
World Bank, Westlake
says, adding Uganda is
laying an educational
foundation that we take
for granted in Canada.
The challenges for
teachers in Uganda differ
from those in Canada.
The average class size in
Uganda is 80 students,
with some classes having
as many as 125 students.
One of the schools had
2,500 students.
Also, supplies such as
paper and books are
almost non-existent so
there is a strong empha-
sis in the schools on lis-
tening and speaking.
Writing is the weakest of
their communication
skills, Westlake says, sim-
ply because of a lack of
practice.
The Ugandan govern-
ment has identified four
core subjects — math,
English, science and
social studies. Westlake
concentrated on social
studies. She says there
was no language barrier
problem because
Ugandan students speak
English in schools after
Grade 3.
The condition of the
schools in Uganda varies,
from those with thatched
roofs and dirt floors to
those comparable to
Canadian schools.
Ugandans have almost
no knowledge of Canada.
Westlake said their social
studies programs don’t
deal with anything out-
side Africa. Canada was
referred to as the United
States’ northern neigh-
bour. They also weren’t
familiar with the concept
of snow.
“Snow is not part of
their reality at all,”
Westlake said with a
smile, although she said
on many days during her
stay in Uganda, it was
actually hotter in Ontario.
The two mandates of
Westlake’s group in
Uganda were to discuss
human rights issues and
HIV/AIDS. While AIDS is a
huge problem in Africa,
Westlake said she spoke
to professors from Kenya
and Nigeria who com-
mended Uganda on its
work dealing with the
AIDS problem. The coun-
try is using education at a
young age to make peo-
ple aware.
Women’s rights were
also discussed. Westlake
said polygamy is common
in Uganda and women
have largely been consid-
ered “property.”
Westlake said the group
didn’t impose Western
values on the Ugandans
and added they per-
formed role-playing activ-
ities to deal with the
issues.
She described the vege-
tation in Uganda as lush
and tropical forest. She
stayed only 20 km north
of the equator and said it
rained twice in the five
weeks she was there.
Ugandans grow tea, cof-
fee and pineapples,
although their pineapples
are too big for the world
market. The country is
also land-locked, making
trade difficult. Westlake
said it wasn’t uncommon
for parents to ask the
Canadian teachers to
take their children back
to Canada with them or
help pay for things.
However, Westlake said
bringing Ugandans over
here doesn’t help them;
what helps the most is to
help them in their coun-
try so Uganda will devel-
op.
Despite the poverty in
Uganda, Westlake said
most of the people she
saw looked well nour-
ished.
She said there is usually
a meal provided for stu-
dents at school, also part
of the government’s new
program.
The trip wasn’t all work
and no play. Westlake
was able to tour the
country and went to Lake
Victoria, the source of the
Nile. On a trip up the Nile
she saw elephants,
giraffes, crocodiles, water
buffaloes and hippopota-
mus.
Westlake described the
Ugandan population as
“beautiful women and
handsome men.” She said
not everybody had elec-
tricity but many people
had cell phones. There is
a lot of outdoor cooking,
no laundry facilities and,
strangely enough, mod-
ern Shell stations.
Westlake said she is
glad she took the trip and
is happy with what hap-
pened when she was
there.
“We learned a lot, too,”
she said. “We certainly
did benefit from growing
and learning with them.”
Westlake said one of the
things she learned is that
children are inherently
eager to learn and that
can take place in the sim-
plest of environments. In
Uganda, children are
taught according to their
needs. In rural areas, for
example, they are taught
agricultural techniques.
Some students are taught
to make mud bricks to
help construct buildings.
Upon returning to
Canada, Westlake says
she realizes we have
many unnecessary
advantages here.
In a report she wrote on
the experience, she says,
“The job is not complete.
It is not a matter of emp-
tying the suitcase, placing
the Ugandan tourist guide
on the shelf, and return-
ing to our normal routine.
In five short weeks,
Uganda has become a
part of me, and in a small
way I have become a part
of Uganda. In the owner-
ship which we share, I
have a responsibility to
ensure that the small
commitments continue
and multiply.”
Zurich’s Alma Westlake,right,took a trip to Uganda
in July as part of an effort by the Canadian Teachers
Federation Project Overseas team.Here she stands
at the Kymbogo University in Kampala with her two
colleagues,Ann Dalmer,far left,of Waterloo,and
Kathy Hunter of St.John,New Brunswick.(photo/sub-
mitted)
Wednesday, October 16, 2002 23Exeter Times–Advocate
Panther Profile
EXETER — The annual Academic Awards
Assembly was last Friday morning.
Congratulations to the hard-working students
who received top student, top subject or honour
roll certificates.
Other awards were given to
students who achieved high
scores in accounting and math
contests. A very special award,
the Stacey Case Memorial
Congeniality Award was present-
ed to Zach Neil.
Commencement was also
Friday. Any students who did not
pick up their diplomas can do so
in the main office.
Congratulations to all the
Panther graduates.
This week is an exciting week in athletics.
Cross Country will travel to a meet at Wildwood
Conservation Area. The girls and boys golf
teams will be attending WOSSA. On the girls’
team are Karly Pinder, Brittany Caldwell, and
Katie Stewart. The boys on the team are Matt
Dietrich, Mark Dietrich and Cam Becker. The
field hockey team will also be at WOSSA, and
will be playing on the home turf! Good luck to
these teams! Don’t forget to come on out, sup-
port our athletes and see the action yourself!
The badminton club plays Thursday nights
from 7 p.m. until 10 p.m. This club is open to
all ages.
Remember to wear a wild, crazy or funny cos-
tume for Halloween!
Coming events:
Oct. 16 - Cross Country Team to Wildwood
Conservation Area
- Science Trip to Wawanosh Nature Centre
- Girls Basketball: St. Anne’s at South Huron
- Girls Golf: WOSSA at Maple Ridge in
East London
- Field Hockey: South Huron at St. Marys
- University Presentation: McMaster at 9 a.m.
Oct. 17 - Boys Golf: WOSSA at Union Golf and
Country Club
- Boys Volleyball: at St. Mike’s
- St. Mikes vs. South Huron
- Listowel vs. South Huron
Oct. 18 - Field Hockey: Goderich
at South Huron
- Mitchell at South Huron
- Picture Retake Day
Oct. 21 - Blood Donor Clinic
- University Presentation: Windsor at 9 a.m.
Oct. 22 - Field Hockey: WOSSA
at South Huron
- University Presentation: Kings College -
U.W.O at 1 p.m.
Oct. 23 - Girls Basketball: South Huron at
Goderich
- University Presentation: York at 2:05 p.m.
Oct. 23-24 - Grade 10 Literacy Test
Oct. 30 -Halloween Dance
BETH
HUNDEY
PANTHER
PROFILE
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