The Marial Bai Secondary School
Volunteer teacher program
Summer 2009 trip
From left to right: Gabrielle Galvez, Jen Nicholson, Valentino Achak Deng,
Colin Weaver, Kelly McDonough, and David Levine.
During July and August 2009, a team of volunteer teachers from the US, Canada, and New Zealand traveled to Southern Sudan to spend the summer at the Foundation’s newly-opened Marial Bai Secondary School. The purpose of their trip was to build capacity at the school through teacher-training, curriculum development, and providing general support for the new school programs. The volunteers met daily with the secondary school teachers for one-on-one mentoring on lesson planning, teaching methods, pedagogy, and strategies to engage students and help struggling learners. Larger teacher-training workshops were offered regularly to local teachers from more than twenty-five primary schools. The volunteers also conducted three regional teacher-training workshops, coordinated by the Ministry of Education and attended by more than 1,000 teachers.
Below are testimonials written by a few of the volunteers.
To apply to be a volunteer teacher in Marial Bai, click here or email volunteer@valentinoachakdeng.org.
VOLUNTEER REFLECTIONS
Colin Weaver
Vancounver, Canada
Teacher at Hong Kong International School
The courage and resiliency of the people of Marial Bai is truly inspiring. They are a people faced with the daunting task of rebuilding after over two decades of civil strife. Situated in a quiet farming village, the community is trying to progress despite being deeply affected by the horrors of a war. Comprehending such horrors is impossible for someone like me. Yet, these people – most notably, Valentino – continue to spend each day finding the positives in their lives. 
They find the motivation to carry on. They take pride in the opportunity to build a new South Sudan at a time when they could understandably be excused for being overwhelmed.
When I arrived in the village, I was welcomed with open arms. I was immediately treated as part of a family. Our group of volunteers was made to feel as comfortable as possible. We spent a large portion of our time at the Marial Bai Secondary School; the lone high school of the region. Working with the three full-time teachers, we helped model instruction techniques and have professional discussions about curriculum, assessment, and philosophy of education. The students, although short on supplies, are keen to learn. There is a thirst for knowledge as the options for schooling have been so limited for so long. The VAD Foundation is a beacon for a new South Sudan. It provides students with a daily structure, a meal, and most importantly, possibilities for the future. One such possibility is female high school education in a setting that is sensitive to local culture.
Looking back at my experience working in Marial Bai, one moment stands out. It was my final evening there, and Valentino gathered the student body. He spoke softly about all of us being advocates for the south Sudanese. That it is our responsibility to go forward into the world and make it a better place. Being a teacher, I had heard those words spoken many times to high schoolers, but in the context of this setting and with this group, you couldn’t help but realize that responsible action is imperative. That these students truly are the future for this particular region. A perspective, as is often the case in Marial Bai, that is both vast, and inspirational.
Gabrielle Galvez
Calgary, Canada
Teacher at Master’s Academy and College
When I first read What Is the What, a fleeting “man, I would love to go to Sudan someday” passed through my thoughts. I could not have even comprehended that I would be on a small plane two years later, flying into Marial Bai to help out at the school built by Valentino’s foundation.
On the trip I was struck by how rapidly Sudan has been developing (given that a peace agreement was signed just 4 years ago). It was amazing to see roads and buildings being built even during the short time we were there. Juxtaposed on this, however, was the great need I heard expressed from those I met. Most of the needs that I saw were in the field of education- teachers requesting formal teacher-training, teaching materials, and a living wage. I was shocked when I learned that many elementary and middle school instructors had not attended high school, and were requesting admission into the Marial Bai Secondary School.
I felt blessed by every day at the school. The students had a sense of pride in themselves and an incredible work ethic. The Sudanese teachers we worked with are tremendously gifted and flexible educators. I am excited by the Foundation’s goals- not just to build a school but to help teachers in Sudan receive solid professional development. A highlight for me was the opportunity to introduce numerous pieces of scientific equipment (microscopes, chemistry equipment and physics demonstrations) to the teachers and students. Most had only seen scientific equipment in books, and I was able to watch their faces light up with understanding as they worked with the hands-on tools. I also loved working with Gabriel Logo each day. I discovered that despite our differences in education and culture, we shared a common passion as teachers to help our students understand and to make learning interesting. Working through new ideas with him helped me to refine my own teaching practice and gain new insights into Sudan’s educational background. I am so grateful to Marial Bai and the VAD foundation for hosting us so graciously and allowing me to experience life in Sudan for a short time!
Kelly McDonough
San Francisco, California
Teacher at Brandeis Hillel Day School
Living in Marial Bai for a month was an incredible experience. People were curious, warm, friendly and always eager to shake our hands and greet us. We spent many afternoons at one of the many tea shops in the market, taking walks, trying to pet baby goats, hanging out and talking to people. At times it was really, really hot.
At first many of the students seemed shy and maybe even a little afraid of us. They warmed up quickly and were clearly eager to learn and wanted to share their experiences with us. My impression was that students seem grateful to have a school, teachers, uniforms and lunch. A very common question they asked toward the end of our time there was, “When will you come back?” And they were not satisfied with vague answers to this question. One Sunday at the volleyball match, Bakita, one of the girls in my after school class came up to me and held my hand as we walked.
The main objective for our being there was to train the teachers in best current practices in education. The teachers were interested in our workshops and training sessions but it became clear to us that the information we were presenting was so entirely new that it looked like it might take longer than we expected to see results. In addition to teacher training we held classes for the students, we did some individual tutoring, we tried to learn to speak Dinka, and we recorded some interviews with students and other community members. My hope that our being there reflected for the students and the people in Marial Bai that they are noticed by an international community that cares about what happened and what will happen next in their lives.
Valentino arrived in Marial Bai about half way into our stay and he brought chocolate from Nairobi with him. He was kind, generous and warm and so soft-spoken. He is a really tall man with an impossibly delicate voice and gentle demeanor. It was really painful to imagine him suffering.
It was interesting to watch Valentino straddle two worlds. One minute he was communicating and interacting easily with us and the next he’d switch to his role as community leader/organizer. In this role he negotiated with workers to get the library finished, arranged meetings with politicians to get their support for building roads toward the school and other seemingly endless tasks.
Overall, it’s clear that the students want to learn. They so badly want to have opportunities to develop their skills and their knowledge and do something with their lives. Their education and their whole lives have been disrupted by war, poverty and uncertainty and these students have dreams to become professionals that seem almost impossible to attain.
But Valentino’s school offers these students in Marial Bai some hope that they might have the chance to keep learning beyond primary levels. Moreover, Valentino’s support of education for girls is clear. He has made on-campus housing available for them so that they can attend school and hired a “den mother” to look after them and reassure their families that they will be safe. This school is central to the development of the community and it was an honor to participate in the efforts.
David Levine
Portland, Oregon
Teacher at Oregon Episcopal School
I really like what the other teachers wrote on this page. In particular I appreciate Kelly’s astute picture of Valentino, Colin’s description of our last night as Valentino spoke to the students, and Gabrielle’s comment about watching development occur in front of our very eyes.
To say it was an inspiring summer, doesn’t do the experience justice. There was a lot of observing and thinking, working and just simply being with others. One day while waiting in one of the many tea shacks to meet with the adult education administrator, I passed the time with my journal and an impromptu game called “One Minute in the Market” – a list of all you can observe in 60 seconds in “downtown” Marial Bai. Here are the results. I hope it provides a snapshot of the vibrancy of life in Marial Bai:
Women in colorful dresses
Men in western clothes and also in gowns
Men walking with canes, staffs, rifles
Water jugs carried on women’s heads
A soccer ball
A crying baby
Sorghum plants growing, blowing in breeze
Trash
A motorcycle. A bicycle. A donkey.
Big birds soaring 50 feet above
Primary school children on holiday
The beating motor of the sorghum mill
A boy rolling an inner tube
The tea lady walking a drink across the market
A man in camouflage. Another in light blue military clothes
Spicy coffee in a glass
David Levine, a teacher from Portland, Oregon, teaching math.
Melanie Borgman, a teacher from New Zealand currently teaching in Lausanne, Switzerland, with a seminar class of girl students from the Marial Bai Secondary School. (Photo credit: Jen Nicholson)
Teachers at the Marial Bai Secondary School: William Atak Deng, Mabior, and Gabriel Logo Kwach.
Melanie Borgman leading a regional teacher-training workshop attended by more than 500 local Sudanese teachers. (Photo credit: Jen Nicholson)
Front row: Gabriel Logo Kwach, David Levine, William Atak Deng, Colin Weaver. Back row: Greg Larson, Jen Nicholson, Gabrielle Galvez, Mabior Deng, Kelly McDonough, William Kolong.
The volunteer team with the Marial Bai Secondary School student body. (Photo credit: Jen Nicholson)
