Teacher Exchange: Coming to America

Invisible Children Uganda Country Director, Jolly Okot, with the 2011 Reciprocal Teacher Exchange participants.

Last week, we had the chance to meet up with the six Ugandan educators who will be making their way to the United States at the end of the year to participate in the Teacher Exchange Program. The Teacher Exchange is a program that allows Ugandan and international educators to create teaching partnerships with their international counterparts. Begun in 2007 to enhance present educational models and establish long-term learning opportunities for all participants, the program lets educators engage in team teaching, information sharing, and skill-building conferences.

Each of the teachers participating in this round of the exchange have had experience with the program in Uganda, which hosts international educators and pairs them with Ugandan educators in our 11 Schools for Schools (S4S) partner schools.  They have all seen firsthand how the program has impacted their students and their schools in Uganda and are preparing to come to the U.S. to team teach in participating schools.  They are looking forward to spending time overseas. (more…)

Plans for Keyo Secondary School

After participating in a month-long Teacher Exchange (TeX) program in the U.S., Calistus has returned to Uganda with a lot to offer Keyo Secondary School.

While in the U.S., Calistus spent time in Missouri, teaching alongside U.S. educators at Rock Bridge High School and Gentry Middle School.  During his time there, he and the teachers he was working with were able to exchange teaching ideas and methods.

He explained that while the U.S. has access to a lot of resources that are not often available in northern Uganda, there were many fresh ideas he was able to bring back that will help raise the academic performance at Keyo S.S.

For example, as a result of what he experienced in the U.S., Calistus intends to carry out periodic meetings with teachers and students.  He feels these meetings will help increase teacher-student interactions and promote a participatory style of learning.

He never stops.  Calistus is determined to implement continuous assessment of teachers and students. He says this will lead to identification of teacher-student needs.

“Dealing with these problems will for sure raise academic performance, I have no doubt,” he said.  “I encourage more teachers to respond to the Teacher Exchange program because it is a great resource.  It will rejuvenate performance in northern Uganda.”

Welcome home, Calistus!

-Bernadette

USA or bust!

As part of Invisible Children’s Reciprocal Teacher Exchange Program (TReX), five teachers from northern Uganda will spend a few weeks team teaching in schools around the US.  Their journey starts today, and they’re excited!

Calistus, Head Teacher of Keyo Secondary School, has been looking forward to this moment for some time.  “When I come to the US, I think it will be like a dream I have been looking forward to achieve,” he said recently.   “I am a geography teacher.  I have been teaching about America, mainly from books, but I think that this is actually going to be an opportunity to see some of those things I was seeing in pictures; it will be an opportunity for me to even step on the soil of America.  When I come back I think that will actually be a historic moment.”

While in the US, Calistus and the other teachers will give presentations about East Africa and participate in team teaching, information sharing, and skill-building conferences.  They will leave the teachers and students in the US with a new understanding of northern Uganda and return with a new set of skills and knowledge of American culture.

“I have a lot of stories to tell the students and the teachers about northern Uganda,” Calistus said, “which I am so excited to share with them.”  We have a feeling that they’re just as excited to hear them, Calistus!

Good luck to all of our teachers participating in the TReX and a big thanks to their host families and schools!

-Malorie

On the Ground: Alice, TReX participant, is going to NYC!

Apiyo Alice, a Ugandan teacher from Lacor Secondary School, finished receiving what she considers some of the best news of her life:  she’s going to America.

Under the Reciprocal Teacher Exchange (TReX), Alice, along with four other Ugandan educators, will travel to the US in January to team-teach for four weeks.  For some, it’s their first time out of the country, but for others, like Alice, this is another country she’ll tick-off on her travel checklist.

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On the Ground: Ugandan teacher heading to the US of A!

Ongiya Calistus Nyeko, one of the most positive, energetic teachers we work with in Uganda.

He approached me, and beaming from ear-to-ear, shook my hand and repeated, “Thank you, thank you, thank you!”  After a few minutes, I finally found out what he was talking about:  Calistus had just received news that he was heading to the US to participate in Invisible Children’s Reciprocal Teacher Exchange (TReX).

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On the ground: meet Grace, a Ugandan teacher heading to the US

Amono Grace is well-mannered, professional, and confident.  Her English is impeccable.  She is deliberate with her words, and because she’s personable, chatting with her is easy.  Grace is the ideal candidate for the Reciprocal Teacher Exchange (TReX), an initiative that sends Ugandan teachers to the U.S. to team teach for one month.

Grace’s interest in cross-cultural teacher exchange dates back to 2007, when she taught alongside a U.S. teacher who came to Uganda through Invisible Children’s Teacher Exchange (TeX).  Even three years later, she recalls how impressed she was by the young American teachers she met—teachers eager to learn about the people, culture, food, and education system of northern Uganda.  “What they were doing was commendable,” she added.  That exposure and long-lasting impression stirred Grace’s desire to participate in the TReX.

Typically confident, Grace admits she was nervous following her TReX interview.  “I was hopeful, but trying to be realistic,” she explained.

It wasn’t until a week later that James, S4S’ Program Manager, rang Grace and prompted the long-awaited phone call.  “Why do you think I’m calling?” he began.  Grace was shocked to hear the good news.  She, alongside five other Ugandan teachers, will head to the U.S. at the end of 2010.

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