There she is! Proud as a peacock in her well deserved gown! Teacher Bridget richt zich tot jullie in haar eigen blog. Trots als een pauw! In een prachtige toga! Van harte gefeliciteerd met het welverdiende diploma!

• Xavier Friesen
• 26 december 2020
• Geen categorie, Nieuws, tweede (primary) school bouwen

Dear readers,

It is not so often I’m writing a blog on the website of Bouwstenen for Zambia myself. Mostly we are providing Xavier with the ingredients. But this is an exception to this rule so to say. Because I truelly want to thank you for your support in my study.

In November 2020 there finally was this big moment which I had looked for since I started my study in three years ago. This big moment was prosponed and prosponed because of the impact of the covidvirus which is also affecting Zambia of course. But there it was: Graduation Day!

It was in 2016 when I applied to study at Zamcol College which is in Solwezi, district of North-Western Province in Zambia. I was accepted and started school in April 2017 under distance learning, which means that I had to attend school during school holidays. I had to travel by bus, every residential since, due to school is out of Livingstone. It is about 660 miles, one way. In kilometres it is about 1065 km one way.

The learning was not easy for me since I could not meet the college fees. It is because of the foundation Bricks for Zambia which give me a big hand by supporting me by helping my with the tuition fees. Bricks for Zambia in Dutch, Bouwstenen voor Zambia as Xavier teached us. Of course Bricks for Zambia and Xavier are well-know and very much appreciated in Livingstone. By the aid of the foundation run by Xavier and his board, the most unexpected has been made possible: a wonderful, real, school has been raised and children, who had no change of access to school-education, now can make their dreams come true too. By good school education in a wonderful school named Xavier Community School (it might be better known by others as the Linda Blind Farm School which was the name before the community, parents, ministry of education as school staff renamed the school and yes Xavier himself was the only one who voted a no).

 

I wanted to do this study so badly. Although I have the papers being a teacher for a pre- and primary school I wanted to educate myself to be a better teacher for the children. This study would be a very good education to do so. But because it wasn’t only 660 miles away from home-town, I also have to take care of my two children, my teen-daughter and son. It was a struggle every time because school toke about one week each, three times a year at least. But I managed. Together we managed! And when there was a dip, there was Xavier and his family who encouraged me not to give up and to go on.

In my job there is not something like being granted by extra study leave and/or reimbursement of the study costs. So my dream was a hard dream to make it come true. And then Xavier offered me to support a part of my study financially until the end of this three years course. For the interest of the school as for the my professional and personal development.

     

I now hold my Diploma as a teacher special in social studies and religious education. I enjoy teaching these subjects as they help to interact with the pupils in a spiritual, moral, social and psychological manner. It really helps to understand the background of every child. And of course I shared it with the children to inspire them in continuing doing their school education (later on more about this). Because school education is so important to develop as a person and to improve your future as from your family and community.

At Xavier Community School sharing graduation

This was my journey to my achievement.  All the hard work and dedication has finally paid off. I am so happy I finally managed to get this graduation!  Thank you to my family, friends, colleague’s and also the children for supporting me morally. Thank you very very much to all donors, supporters, Wilde Geese all people and helpers of Bricks of Zambia who have supported me financially and morally.Thank you for making the pre- and the primary school possible and for supporting me in living this education dream for myself and the school too. I really appreciate this. I’m very grateful for this opportunity. Special thanks to Xavier personally and his family special for the moral support and the encouragements when I needed it the most. And once he even guidanced me, online, in making my home-work! We will keep on doing the good work for the benefit of the children of Xavier Community School. Thank you.

Yours sincerely, Bridget

Teacher at Xavier Community School from the very beginning in 2012.

   

Bridget doing her tests at school. 92% voor haar test Informatica! Very very well done!

      

Bridget as a student, with colleague-students at Zamcol College Solwezi