ANNUAL REPORT 2013 EPP HUAMBO

Transcription

1 ANNUAL REPORT 2013 EPP HUAMBO Submitted by ADPP Angola to U-landshjelp fra Folk til Folk, Norge

2 Introduction EPP Huambo began as a Children s School that was founded in 1991 in Huambo. Since 2011, the Children s School has been divided in two programs: a primary and secondary school with pupils from 4th to 9th grade, and the new program, EPP for 7th, 8th and 9th grade. EPP stands for Escola Polivalente e Profissional in Portuguese and means Practical and Theoretical School in English. The latter is a full day education consisting of academic subjects and practical skills, taught using many new and modern methods. The course lasts three years and is open to students who have concluded 6th grade. Project Activities and Results In 2013, 195 students were following the EPP program. 7 th Grade 54 students, 32 boys and 22 girls 8 th Grade 84 students, 51 boys and 33 girls 9 th Grade 57 students, 37 boys and 20 girls 7 th Grade 7 th Grade students at EPP Huambo were introduced to many new matters in the course of First and foremost, the EPP system of learning was new to them, as were many of the activities. The year began with an introduction to these new concepts and the content of the course. They then gained experience in food production, learning first about the importance of good nutrition and a varied, healthy diet, and then putting their new knowledge into practice in the school vegetable garden and the tree nursery. They also got a taste of what a community health agent does, investigating health problems and diseases in the local community. One of the highlights of the first half of the year was a survival trip in the municipality of Mungo. The students camped out, taking turns to cook for the group, investigating the nearby village, playing sport and sharing cultural activities. The students combined secondary school subjects with learning more about the two professions currently available for study at EPP Huambo, namely Environment Promoter and Information & Communication Assistant. Student participation was high making the school year particularly successful. The practical classes, for example in computer science, were a challenge, but most enjoyable. The 7 th grade students participated in community actions, ranging from tree planting to malaria awareness campaigns. The year ended with oral exams, where the students worked in small groups, presenting and defending their chosen themes. They were examined in Portuguese, biology, mathematics and English.

3 8 th Grade The 8 th Grade students on both courses were required to leave their mark during The Environmental Promoter group combined studies of global warming, the importance of preserving the environment, ecology and recycling and waste systems, with practical actions that included the construction of firewood saving stoves and tree planting. The students undertook community actions using the knowledge acquired at EPP Huambo. In the communities of Chivela, Lufefena and Quissala they built firewood saving stoves, planted trees and spoke to the communities about the fight against global warming and climate change. The students also helped rehabilitate the schoolyard, leaving their mark here too. They concluded the year by presenting reports about what they had learned and experienced throughout the year. The Communication Assistants learned about the many forms of communication, the basic techniques of speaking in public, about computers and how they work, IT and mass communication and the advantages and disadvantages of using the Internet. They combined these courses with practical studies in the use of the computer. They made a film in documentary form and produced newspapers that they printed and distributed in the local community. All the students participated in promotion activities with a view to attract more students to the school. They also gave talks about transmittable diseases at local primary schools. The final exams took place at the end of November. 9 th Grade The students in 9 th grade are also divided into two classes, corresponding to their professions: 29 Environment Promoter students, 21 boys and 8 girls 28 Communication and Information Assistants, 16 boys and 12 girls The highlight of the year was three weeks of practical experience. The Environment Promoter students carried out their three weeks practice period in the following institutions and enterprises: IDF (Institute for Forest Development), in the sections for forest inventory, for supervision, and for nurseries and new plantations Casa Ecológica (a centre for information and research about environmental questions such as combating of desertification and substances that are harmful for the ozone layer) The public waterworks of Huambo Envirobac (a private company engaged in waste treatment)

4 The Communication & Information students practiced their profession in the following institutions and enterprises: ANGOP (Angola Press Agency) Radio Mais (a private radio station) Casa Ecológica IDF, the section for forest inventory The Municipal Department of Health The Municipal Hospital of Mungo MENTOR (NGO engaged in combating malaria) Envirobac The students learned a lot from their practice period. The majority of them had never before worked in a formal workplace, either public or private, where they had to follow the time schedule, manners and routines of their adult workmates. They faced several challenges in the course of the practice period. The students, who were in practice at IDF, learned about nurseries, and the Communication & Information Assistant students made a documentary about the institution. Two micro groups practiced in Casa Ecológica where they made presentations for primary schools about the importance of water, agriculture, globalisation and renewable energy. 9 th Grade students are required to demonstrate all what they have learned in the course of training at EPP Huambo. The Environment Promoters conducted many social activities in the community. After completing workshops where they learned about talking in public and making presentations interesting, the students went out to give talks in churches, primary schools and municipal administrations among other places, explaining about the importance of plants, about the environment and about waste control and hygiene in the home and in the neighbourhood. They gained a lot of experience working with elderly people. The Communication and Information Assistants did practical actions around the city, giving talks about HIV/Aids, malaria and other epidemics. They also participated in the promotion of EPP Huambo. On completion of the practical actions students sat written and oral exams to demonstrate what they had learned. There were many people in the audience at the oral exam, from parents and guardians of the students, to representatives of Huambo Municipal Administration, the Department of Education and headmasters of neighbouring schools. The students were proud of their achievements and were optimistic of finding work in their chosen field. Other highlights Many events have been held at the school in the course of the year:

5 An official ceremony to mark the beginning of the school year and a celebration to mark the end. International Women s Day was celebrated in March, together with EPF Huambo and representatives of the Ministry of Family and Women s Affairs. Earth Day was celebrated in April, coinciding with the conclusion of 9 th Grade s environmental campaign. Tree Day was celebrated with the planting of trees in front of what will be the patio of EPP Huambo. A very important event was the celebration of the partnership between Unitel, a telecommunications company, and EPP Huambo. The school received 40 computers and Internet data cards from the company on 8 August A number of sports matches and tournaments have been held, including football, basketball and athletics. Building weekends have been a regular feature and included improving the surroundings of the school and preparations for the installation of a new generator. Children s School Program Besides following the curriculum for academic subjects in each grade from 4 th to 9th, the students practiced different sports and participated in sports competitions and tournaments with students from other schools at the same level, and benefited from hygiene and health education, including instruction in dental health. There were many debates held at the school, discussing topics such as women in political organisations, youth policies, and national heroes. Visits were made to public institutions: the Regional Hospital, the Railway Museum, a sports complex and Radio TPA. There were 17 classes in 2013 with an average of 40 students per class. Out of School Youth Program 289 participants completed the Youth in Action course with success. The concluded literacy Module 1 I like to read and write. The students learned to work in groups, helping one another to complete their tasks. Extra help was given to those with learning difficulties. A variety of other activities were undertaken, including football matches, community actions, cleaning wells in Raimundo and Lufefena, doing research at the market in Quissala and visiting the elderly in Chivela. This program had a major impact on the participants, giving them the opportunity to learn to read and write and to work with the community. The community itself benefited thanks to the talks and actions carried out, from cleaning of wells to lectures on ways to disinfect water.

6 The Effects of the Project The school and its program have a great impact on the behaviour and general attitudes of the students. Gradually they become more confident and open minded. The implementation of the EPP program represents great challenges for the teachers. They become enablers, helping and encouraging their students to find their own answers from various sources. The EPP program includes many activities with the local communities around the school. The students learn to make investigations about issues of importance, and later they return to carry out actions and campaigns in order to solve some of the problems they have discovered. The reactions from the community members are very positive. They are surprised by the high level of activity and abilities of the young students, and this may contribute to change their views both on the role of teenagers and students in society and on education in general. The local authorities appreciate the community actions carried out by the students, and they enjoy participating in special events at the school. The Project in Numbers Goal 2013 Achieved 2013 Total Male Female Ministry of Education appointed EPP teachers Locally appointed EPP teachers EPF Trainees in their practice period Ministry of Education Children s School appointed teachers Other staff EPP 7 th Grade EPP 8 th Grade Environment Promoter Communication and Information Assistant EPP 9 th Grade Environment Promoter Information and Communication Assistant Children s School Out of School Youth Program Community Events 15 14

7 AJUDA DE DESENVOLVIMENTO DE POVO PARA POVO ANNEXES EPP HUAMBO

8 Success Stories EPP Huambo Domenica Constantine Soares, 16 years, from Benfica During the week Leaving a mark in my community we learnt many things such as scanning a report, printing flyers, producing a movie and methods for conducting interviews in the community. In the film production we learnt how to fetch information, searching on the computer, saving pictures, typing and printing. In the promotion part we distributed pamphlets to sensitize students and other community members on important issues in the community. Student 8th class, Information and Media Assistant Miguel Ricardo, 15 Years, from Chivela My success during the three years of training at EPP Huambo. My name is Ricardo Miguel, I am 15 years old and am from Waco Kungo in Kwanza Sul. The EPP School started in February 2011 and I joined the school at its inception enrolled in the Information and Media Assistant course. To date I have learnt many important things both academic and practical. My course is critical for my region as there is need for skilled people in this area. The big advantage of the course is that it is two specialties that are Media and Journalism. As I graduate I want to dedicate my time to writing the good things about my people, my country and the world. I am glad because my micro-group produced a film titled Learning to live in the EPP School. I can say the Theoretical and Practical School is a school with its various courses is very important for young Angolans, to ensure that young people are integrated into the mainstream economy. In 9th grade I passed Mathematics with distinctions, because I like mathematics and I dream of being also a mathematician. I encourage other young people to enroll with EPP Huambo because it is a good place to gain life skills. Final Year Student for Information and Media Assistant Course

9 Albino Dumbi Romano, 18 years, from S. Pedro The protection of the environment depends on all of us; it will only be possible to achieve a healthy environment on our planet when all people contribute. My name is Albino Dumbi Romano and I m a student at the Practical and Theoretical School Grade 9 and enrolled onto the Environmental Activist Course. I did my work practice at Envirobac, a company that specializes in waste collection and has assumed the social responsibility of improving sanitation of Huambo. I have learnt that all human activity leads to the production of waste hence there is a lot of waste and its processing is mostly inadequate. I learnt that pollution includes carbon dioxide and sulfur dioxide that contaminates the soil, water and air. I also learnt that if processed much of the waste we produce can be productively used as fertilizer, and recycled for production of usable materials. Final Year Student for Environmental Activist I have learnt that all human activity leads to the production of waste hence there is a lot of waste and its processing is mostly inadequate. I learnt that pollution includes carbon dioxide and sulfur dioxide that contaminates the soil, water and air - Albino Dumbi Romano

10 E P P H U A M B O Y E A R R E P O R T Jury members for the People s Exam at EPP Huambo. Students promote the EPP courses to other young people outside their school. Information and Communication Assistants having a practical lesson at the school. AJUDA DE DESENVOLVIMENTO DE POVO PARA POVO

11 E P P H U A M B O Y E A R R E P O R T After a lesson on global warming and on conserving biodiversity, the students planted eucalyptus trees in the area surrounding the school. Students learn to graft an orange and lemon trees. Student working during a construction activity at the school. AJUDA DE DESENVOLVIMENTO DE POVO PARA POVO

12 E P P H U A M B O Y E A R R E P O R T Students from EPP Huambo perfomed a theatre play in the neighbourhood of the school to mobilize the youth for the professional courses. Students went on a study trip to Huila Province where they made investigations in the area of Morro da Leba. Girls play volleyball at the school during their sports lessons. AJUDA DE DESENVOLVIMENTO DE POVO PARA POVO