Chimanimani PSA Group Hosts Tutor Meeting
Last Updated on Saturday, 13 March 2010 01:25 Written by Webmaster Saturday, 13 March 2010 01:19
Thursday, 11 February 2010
A PSA student has expressed concern at the tendency of people, especially young people, not to see the practical application of their thoughts and words. Mr. Katuntamfwa was speaking at the first tutor meeting to be hosted by a PSA group in Kabwe.
“Most young people do not seem to understand that what they say or what they know can be translated into action”, said Mr. Katuntamfwa. “But this does not only affect young people, it seems to be a tendency that affects many people. We see people spending a whole year talking about wellbeing and yet do nothing meaningful about it.”
The tutor meeting which was hosted by the Chimanimani PSA group is the first of its kind and represents a departure by the PSA program from the earlier practice where the tutor meetings were held at the program office. Mr. James Mutale, the Field Coordinator for Kabwe, explained that the reason for taking the tutor meetings into the community was to bring the tutors closer to the experiences of the groups in the unit other than their own. Students from the Chimanimani group participated in the first part of the meeting during which the consultation focused on the experiences of their group.
“The group has been in existence for a year now,” reported by Mr. Katuntamfwa. “Although there were 30 of us at the beginning half have left for various reasons. We are now 15 and we have a better understanding of the purpose and objectives of the program.”
Andrew Malipenga, a member of the group, felt that the progress the group is making is due to the close relationship that exits among the students and between them and their tutors. “There is a culture of openness in the group,” he shared. “As students we are very happy to freely share ideas and work together on every task we are given.”
In the 12 months of its existence, the Chimanimani group has completed the first two blocks and is now in Block 3. In the last 12 months they have undertaken a number of activities including a malaria sensitization campaign, a research on the extent of plastic waste in their community, a demonstration plot of household food production, and will soon be doing an investigation of household farming in Chimanimani compound.
“We are learning to translate what we studying in the texts into action,” Mr. Katuntamfwa shared. “We come from an education system that pays little attention to practice and overemphasises theory. As a result many young people do not even know that they can translate what they learn into action. This also reflects in adults who can talk for a whole year about wellbeing and yet not do anything meaningful about it.”
Sharon Phiri, one of the 8 female members of the group, shared how she is trying to implement what they are learning in her personal life.
“In my neighborhood I have helped everybody understand the long term effects of plastic on the environment and started promoting separation of organic and inorganic waste. As a result a number of households are now separating their waste and in my family we are using plastic to create bowls that are used to store various things,” Sharon reported.
Beene, another female member of the group, shared that at the beginning there was a lot of confusion about the purpose of the PSA program. “People told me that we would be paid for being members of the group and that we would not have to pay for the materials,” she said. “Of course it was not true. We do not get paid and we buy books but we are learning a lot from the program and I am enjoying it a lot.”
Ivy, a female student that lives on a farm, shared how the learning she is engaged in has greatly impressed her husband and her extended family. “When I showed my husband the unit Addition and Subtraction he was very impressed and greatly encouraged me never to give up on the program. I share what we are learning with other people who visit us from my husband’s family and all of them give me a lot of encouragement. As a result some have offered to pay for my books and I now do not have to pay from my own fund.”
PSA tutors from other groups experienced great admiration and appreciation of the progress the Chimanimani group is experiencing. Bwalya Kangwa, a tutor in Makululu compound commended the group for learning from their challenges.
“I can see that you are trying to create a firm foundation for the growth and development of your group,” he said. “I think it is important to understand that a group is a like a human being. It has its stages of infancy, childhood, adolescence, youth and maturity. As you proceed in the program, you mature and are able to do more.”
The Chimanimani group is one of the most active and stable groups in Kabwe. Its 15 students and two tutors work well together and is a major source of learning for the entire program. By hosting the first tutor meeting taking place away from office, the group demonstrated its capacity and maturity, aspects that will greatly assist in its further development.