After School Activities

Canadian kids are used to numerous extracurricular activities. Whether it is music, sports, drama, yearbook making, or any number of possibilities, many students are involved in at least something. I know, for myself, that it was these activities, particularly in high school, that form some of the best memories.

Zambian students do not always get these opportunities. At community schools, since the teachers are not paid a salary anyway, it takes particularly devoted individuals to dedicate their time to after school activities. So there are not many activities for kids to participate in after school. They, too, have obligations: younger siblings to take care of, food to cook, and houses to clean. Yet, if my experience thus far has been any indication, there is an insatiable appetite for any activity one can offer.

I have been able to start up three after school programs and join in on a fourth. At Chimwemwe School I have started Wednesday afternoon football. By the second week there were 60 kids who wanted to play and so we had to divide into two matches. A couple of girls asked me if they could play sometime too so I was trying to have girls football on Fridays but this has not really worked out. Once girls go home they have all kinds of duties to take care of (unlike the boys) so they can't really come back to school to play.

I have also been helping out with the Chimwemwe Anti-AIDS Club. Right now they are preparing poetry and songs for the upcoming Independence Day celebration. This has thrust me into the role of drama and choir director. They are a great group of kids and we have lots of fun.
There is a special event happening at Chimwemwe next Tuesday in honour of Independence Day. The "Miss Chimwemwe Competition" will feature dancing, modeling (both western and traditional), singing, poetry, and miming. Yes, miming. Every day after school there are kids practicing their dance moves or the proper model strut, usually to blaring western R & B. It is actually quite funny. The practices draw quite a crowd as well - usually kids stand several deep around the windows to try and get a glimpse of the action while the Deputy Headmaster has to fight them off with a stick.

At Aisha School, I could see no evidence of activities of any kind. I think that there might be an anti-AIDS club there too but, since I am only there twice a week, I am liable to miss some things. On Tuesdays now we have Bible club. This is really a combination of a short Bible lesson followed up with a semi-related activity. The first week we played some games ostensibly about "making choices." This past week we drew pictures of the differences between seeking power and wanting to help others. The kids lit up when I pulled out the crayons and told them we were going to draw. So this group is also going very well. And finally, on Thursdays we have Chess club. Chess is a very popular game in Zambia and, since the pieces are easy to come by, it seemed like an easy club to start.

That is the sum of my extracurricular activities - usually 3 or 4 days per week I get to do something outside of class. This is great for me because it gives me a chance to meet the kids and interact with them in a setting outside of classes and I hope that it is great for them as well - giving them an opportunity to participate in a slightly structured activity with their friends.