February 2013, God's Tender Mercy started a nursery school! We currently have 120 children attending. Why 120 children? Because we cannot fit any more children in the 2 temporary structures!!! We had to cut off registration. More children are waiting...
Nursery school in South Sudan is the first step of education. It consists of 3 classes: preschool, kindergarten, and first grade.
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| Apwyo! (Thank you!) |
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| GTM Uniforms - Red & White |
One of David's visions was to start a nursery school. The education system in South Sudan does not reach many of the children. Parents must pay registration fees & school fees for each child. The money is used to pay the teacher's salaries and for school supplies. Their culture also requires children to have uniforms which, of course, costs extra. Parents cannot afford to send all or maybe any of their children to school. Even if they do, most local schools do not currently hold their teachers to high standards for attendance or quality.
David wanted to start a school that was affordable, organized, held the teachers responsible for teaching and showing up each morning on time, had teachers that would teach effectively, and MOST importantly would teach the Holy Scriptures to the children each day.
We do charge school fees, but they are as low as possible. They are lower than any other school in the area. The only other nursery school in the area has chosen this year to more than double its already overpriced school fees. Our desire is not to make money but to see South Sudan's children educated.
Normally a brick school building does not exist when a school is started. The nursery school I visited 3 years ago consisted of a small chalkboard (maybe 24"x24" at the most) nailed to a tree with about 50 four, five, and six year olds sitting on the dirt. No building or even a roof to keep the rain and intense radiant heat of the sun off of them. They did have a couple sparse shade trees. Again, this is normal.
Below you can see one of our teachers teaching the children in our 2 temporary shelters.
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| Judith Teaching @ GTM Nursery School w/ Baby on Her Back |
Currently we are building 4 large (20' diameter) mud huts for class rooms. The huts will have open air windows to illuminate the area. These structures are temporary as well. They will last about 2 years before the grass and bamboo roof will need to be replaced due to termites and the elements. The walls may need to be replaced as well.
The children receive "porridge" each morning with a cup of water to drink. Porridge is essentially what we would call grits made from corn. The porridge is provided by the corn that David grows on the property of GTM. Really it is provided by our loving creator that promises to provide for His children. We want to make sure each child has breakfast so they can concentrate on the teaching. We pray the Holy Spirit will touch each one to give them a spiritual hunger...a spiritual hunger that will spread to their families and neighbors!
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| Porridge for Breakfast! |
Please pray for God's hand to lead us forward on the path He has set for us.
Pray for the children to be touched by the Holy Spirit....to know and worship Him in the Spirit!
