This week we received a visit from a local club, held a child safeguarding workshop, and started a band!
VOH Bulale (Tanzania) Update: Assessment Week
Recently at VOH Bulale, our students wrote their end-of-term exams.
The week of exams begins with our preschool children. The teachers oversee the students while they write the exams and then review the results afterwards. The tests help the teachers assess how their students are doing with their lessons.
After exams, the children take a one-month break before starting the next term. We hope they rest up well!
VOH Bwiza (Burundi) Update: Club Yagamahoro
At VOH Bwiza, we received visitors from the Club Yagamahoro. The club members decided to celebrate the 3rd anniversary of the club by visiting our centre and blessing our children with drinks, food and joy through songs and dance.
The children had a great time with the guests and performed some traditional dances together! Everyone had a great time!
We are sure that this visit will be marked in the hearts of our children. Thank you, Club Yagamahoro, for making our day!
VOH Chongwe (Zambia) Update: Child Safeguarding Workshop
Recently, VOH Chongwe conducted a Child Safeguarding workshop for members of staff, Child Safeguarding Committee, and student representatives from the Children’s Council.
We regularly hold these review workshops to ensure all employees and children are well-versed with our Child Safeguarding Policy and can apply it in their day-to-day interactions.
The exciting part of this particular workshop was that students were invited to take part. During the session, they were able to share their thoughts and ask questions.
James, one of the members of the Children’s Council, confirmed that his team keeps fellow students updated on the Child Safeguarding Policy and represents them well at these workshops. He added that the Children’s Council makes sure that every VOH Chongwe child knows they are protected and that they should not fear reporting any incidences to the designated child safeguarding officers.
VOH staff leadership was quite impressed with the children’s active participation in the training!
VOH Kitwe (Zambia) Update: Government Grant Provides Clothes!
Our school at VOH Kitwe opened for the second term this week on a positive note: Students received new sweaters, uniforms, school shoes and socks!
The purchase of these items was made possible by a small grant that we applied for and received from the Zambian government. Knowing their government values them and has stepped forward to support them makes the children feel special and cared for.
Everyone was very excited about their new uniforms, and the parents are grateful for everything VOH does for their children!
VOH Malawi Update: Meet Chisomo
“I would like to make my family and VOH smile when I receive my grade twelve exam results.” This is the message we received from Chisomo, a 20-year-old boy who joined VOH Malawi when he was only seven.
Chisomo is a very well-mannered and hardworking student. He is a student union leader and Head Boy at school. In June, he will be writing his grade 12 exams, and we are confident he will do well!
In addition to excelling academically, Chisomo is an athlete who inspires many people, including our VOH kids. This was observed during Hope camp last year, where he took the lead in boxing and other athletic activities.
We are confident Chisomo will do very well in his exams, and we look forward to seeing how his bright future unfolds!
VOH Maramvya (Burundi) Update: Discipleship Group
At VOH Maramvya, discipleship is something that has captured the hearts of our children. This past week, Desire, the chaplain, organized a group that allowed the children to express their love for God and His word in various ways.
Estella, a grade 5 student, was the group leader, and it was amazing to see her lead the group at just nine years of age. She opened the group with a prayer, and then the VOH Maramvya choir sang. The children also presented dances to go along with each song. Every song had a biblical meaning and a corresponding dance.
One of the songs was about creation. Another was from Psalm 46:1 “God is our refuge and strength, a very present help in trouble.”
We are thankful to see the Bible come alive to our children in these ways as they learn and grow together!
VOH Mwanza (Tanzania) Update: School Band!
Everyone at VOH Mwanza is very excited because, for the first time, we have introduced a school band!
Students have begun learning about the different instruments and practicing, and it’s a new and exciting experience for them!
So far, one of their favourite instruments is the drums. The first band class began by exploring the drum kit, which caused lots of excitement. The drummer taught them the different parts of the drum set, how to hold the sticks, and played simple beats.
It’s an exciting experience for the school, and the children are looking forward to learning all the other instruments that make up a band!
VOH Zimbabwe Update: Painting T-Shirts!
Recently at VOH Zimbabwe, we painted t-shirts! Our Mission Zimbabwe friends from Ontario visited us from Canada, and they came prepared to do various crafts, including t-shirt painting.
It was a delightful afternoon where children exhibited their creativity and appreciation of art as a potential career. The children chose what they wanted to paint on their t-shirts; some chose scripture, and others chose their favourite Bible characters.
Thank you to Mission Zimbabwe for facilitating such a fun afternoon!