This Week: VOH Africa Leaders Reunite

This week at VOH Africa, we received new dresses, held a Family Fun Day, and our leadership team met for the first time since COVID-19!

VOH Africa: Leadership Meetings

Last week, VOH Africa directors Sergio and Nancy Bersaglio hosted leadership meetings in Lusaka, Zambia, welcoming the directors from all ten VOH locations. Due to COVID-19, we haven’t been able to hold these in-person meetings recently, and it was great to be together again!

The focus was to plan and strategize together. We always want to hear from the directors as we look to the future. We reflected on the changes that have taken place since VOH started in 1999. We also did a S.W.O.T. (Strengths, Weaknesses, Opportunities, Threats) exercise. Lastly, the directors had a chance to share any challenges they are facing, so we could support them.

Everyone left the meeting feeling united, energized, and optimistic about the future of VOH!

VOH Bulale (Tanzania) Update: Playing Sports

We know children are playful, so at VOH Bulale, the children play sports two days a week. They put on their tracksuits, which are more comfortable than their usual school uniforms. When the children are out playing, they socialize with students from other classes and get a chance to make new friends outside of their usual groups. It’s wonderful to see them interacting and building friendships as a VOH Community!

VOH Bwiza (Burundi) Update: Child Evangelism Fellowship

This week at VOH Bwiza, we welcomed a team from Child Evangelism Fellowship (CEF). CEF is an association whose mission is to work with children, to help them to know God personally. They use teaching methods adapted to a child’s level, including songs and games. The group offered discipleship to our preschool children. At VOH, discipleship for children is one of the programs we run daily. Through the discipleship program, children understand who God is and how much He loves them. Our children were excited to meet the team!

VOH Chongwe (Zambia) Update: Grade 7 Exams

It’s exam time again in Zambia, and our VOH Chongwe Grade 7 students have already started writing their National Examinations. We are confident they will do a great job because they have prepared well and are confident and ready! We are so grateful to our dedicated and committed teaching staff, who work hard to ensure a good and conducive learning environment for our students. We wish our students all the best!

VOH Kitwe (Zambia) Update: Home Economics Practical Exams

It’s exam time in Zambia, and the Grade 9 students will start their government exams soon. This week, our Grade 9 students had sewing and knitting practicals in Home Economics. These practicals are required for them to later sit for exams in this subject.

The practicals are conducted under the supervision and guidance of their teacher. The children were so happy to make headbands, pencil cases, tablecloths and more!

We are grateful that the Ministry of Education has provided a career pathway for the learners. This has enabled children to acquire a variety of skills they can use in the future!

VOH Luongo (Zambia) Update: Independence Day Celebration!

Recently, Zambia celebrated its independence anniversary, and the children and staff of VOH Luongo were excited to celebrate this special day together.

Independence Day is a national holiday where children have a chance to take part in various cultural activities. The children performed cultural dances, poems, and songs, and each shared their understanding of independence.

It was great to see the children learning the history of our country and about our independence and celebrating it!

VOH Malawi Update: New Desks!

At VOH Malawi, we are so happy to have new desks for our grade five and six classrooms!

Every year as the kids graduate to the next grade, we need additional school equipment, like desks and chalkboards. We ordered 40 desks, and we have been patiently waiting.

The first 20 desks were delivered last week, and we are using them to add additional seating for students who moved up to grade 5, which has our highest student enrollment. The final 20 came this week, and we are using them in our new Grade 6 classroom.

We appreciate each of our VOH Malawi sponsors for making purchasing these new desks possible!

VOH Maramvya (Burundi) Update: Donated Dresses

At VOH Maramvya, we recently shared a gift of beautiful dresses that were sent to us by our friends at Cross Church in Winnipeg, Canada.

The sewing women’s association at Cross Church made the dresses for our youngest girls. When we shared them with the girls, they were thrilled! They said they would wear them on Sundays to church and for special occasions.

We want to say a big thank you to the ladies at Cross Church for surprising us with such beautiful dresses. Thank you very much for the love you continue to show us!

VOH Mongu (Zambia) Update: New Prefects

This week at VOH Mongu, a new prefect team has been appointed at our school. Watching the teachers and VOH Mongu leadership present for this special occasion was a joy!

Our VOH Director shared encouraging words with all outgoing and incoming prefects. We love listening to the students who run for Head Girl, Head Boy, and Prefect positions as they express their love for our VOH school.

We are grateful for all the outgoing prefects’ wonderful work over the past year and wish the new team the best of luck going forwards!

VOH Mwanza (Tanzania) Update: Safety Training

VOH Mwanza puts a strong emphasis on safety. This awareness includes equipping our staff with essential safety skills. All VOH staff were asked to attend our recent training and were happy to participate.

The person providing the safety training shared crucial information about rescuing someone who had an accident.

Our VOH Mwanza staff appreciated the training. They know it will help them at the centre and at home in their communities.

VOH Zimbabwe Update: Family Fun Day!

It was a weekend full of fun at VOH Zimbabwe! We held our annual Family Fun Day, inviting all parents and children to attend an afternoon of games, eating, and fellowship. The goal is to foster a relationship between our VOH centre and those from our community.

The day started with a parenting workshop, followed by games and eating. We also had a health desk offering free health checks to those who wanted them.

The children and parents came in large numbers to support the event and take part in the fun. Everyone was grateful for the opportunity to spend time building relationships and having fun together!