We learn as we go

If there is one resounding lesson we always want to remember, it is this…we don’t know everything! Or, better said, we learn as we go. Every conversation, every interaction, every person we meet…these all contain a bit of what was once unknown. By keeping our eyes and ears open to these moments, we learn. 

This is how we came to the agreement to provide Launchpad. This is how we decided hosting missions teams was a great benefit to the communities in which we work. This is how we look to the future. This is how we came up with Delta.

Part of us wishes we thought of these things in chronological order, but we didn’t. We started to sponsor students so they could attend school, and in this learned how many were unprepared. Thus we now provide Launchpad. Now we have learned of the plight of many students who are being passed from grade to grade, but are wholly unprepared. The most critical problem seems to be the ability to read.

We have found 4th and 5th graders who might know half of the alphabet. They can handle math, but cannot read the word problems. They understand science, but cannot read experiment instructions. Get the picture?

So, starting in January 2019 we plan on providing an after-school program (Delta), specifically designed to get these kids up to speed with their peers, before they get pushed into a higher grade where nothing awaits them but failure. We have started dialogue with a community library, and so far the talks are all positive. We are working with the local primary school, and they are supportive of our plans. We will soon begin talking to parents and students to determine the best schedule and topics, so the kids get the most out of the program.

Where do we go next? Who knows…but the idea of offer Adult Literacy classes has long been on our radar!