My volunteering program, come to an end. It was really a special experience.
The teaching activities in Shalom Primary School went over my expectations. When I arrived at school on the first day, I discovered that I was supposed to be in charge of the “7th Grade” of primary school. In Zimbabwe, primary school lasts 7 years and so at 13 years old you take exams and then you go to high school. August is a sort of revision period in which the students, who had finished lessons in July, go to school to review and prepare for the September exams. The principal decided to put me alongside the “7th Grade” teacher to give the kids the opportunity to have additional support in preparing for the exams. I had a very nice interaction with the teachers and with the class. As long as the languages spoken at home are Ndebele and Shona, all subjects are taught in English. After discussing the program with the teacher, we decided that I would review ICT "Information and Communication Technology", basically computers and software. It seems that my ICT (Information and communication technology) lessons were useful even for the teacher; kids always asked me questions and the "final test" showed a good understanding. It was a huge satisfaction, it means that they understood me and despite they having had very little time to study, they assimilated my lessons, there could not have been a greater emotion. I was happy to have been able to donate some of my time to these African kids, they, with the affection they showed me, certainly gave me much more than I was actually able to give them. I therefore reap the benefits of these very few weeks of volunteering, with the certainty that I will want to make myself available again, because yes, I taught them a bit of ICT, but being able to participate in their lessons, enriched me, a lot, listening first-hand to what they teach in a school in Zimbabwe was the deepest cultural immersion I have ever experienced.
I want to thank you all and all the local staff that supported me in everything at the house and in town, I felt at home.
Response from IFRE Volunteers Abroad
Dear Pablo,
Thank you for sharing your experience! We’re thrilled to hear that you found the program enjoyable and that our team provided you with great support. Your suggestions regarding logistics are very valuable; we will certainly consider pairing volunteers with similar assignments to reduce transportation costs. We're glad you enjoyed your stay with the welcoming family and the delicious food! It’s wonderful to hear that you liked the salsa class as well. We appreciate your recommendation about adjusting the program cost to attract more volunteers and look forward to welcoming you back in the future. Safe travels!