Miss Hannah

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      I am no longer just ‘Hannah’ my new title is now Miss Hannah. I am no going to lie, I kind of love it!

      When I arrived in Kumbo I was told by the director of the NGO that I was teaching computers. Alarm bells rang in my ears… those who know me KNOW how utterly terrible I am with computers. ‘Computer illerate’ was once used to describe me. But instead of saying ‘no I can’t do this’, I saw it as a challenge and I realised I am here to help them and this is something they need help with. 

      So I began teaching and to be honest it has all worked out quite well as I have learnt so many things about computers myself! I love teaching. I really do. Before my first lesson I was pooing myself. I had no idea how I was going to get up in front of a class and teach them about something I barely new anything about myself.

     To my surprise, it is was actually really fun and so rewarding. Watching all these faces looking at YOU, knowing you are teaching them, giving them knowledge. It is a bloody good feeling.

     All my students are great; I haven’t once had to discipline any of them… apart from a few of the younger ones who have a fascination with Word Art – any task I give them they seem to end up inserting word art. “Mirabel, we are inserting TABLES not Word Art” … followed by giggles from the rest of the class.

     It is such a pleasure to teach them. I never appreciated the importance of computers and the internet until I came here. I always had a negative view of technology in general; it just seemed to be a lot of effort to keep up with. Then I spoke to a Doctor here who said he had great respect that I was teaching I.T as it is extremely important in this day and age “If you are computer illiterate; you are illiterate” is what he said to me. Most good jobs require knowledge in I.T, to communicate you need I.T. It really dawned on me, firstly how lucky I am to have grown up with computers and it being part of my life and secondly how I was giving these students a skill that could take them much further in life. 

      What the NGO aims to do is educate orphans and vulnerable children. With barley any funding they are doing a pretty good job of it. Most of the students in my class are orphans or come from an incredibly poor family. The difference in their attitude is insane. They appreciate me so much, after every class they all say thank you and they work damn hard.

      The director is great at motivating them. He often comes in and gives speeches about how they should be grateful for this opportunity and they should take what they are learning and teach their friends and family. Every morning three different students come in early and clean the computer area. At first I thought it was a bit harsh; but he explained how they want to do it as they wouldn’t have been able to afford to get this education otherwise; this is their way of saying thank you.

      It can often be quite emotional learning about some of their stories. There is a girl in my class who Fred (the director) often gives food or money to as their family don’t have anything to eat. I set the class a typing task once and one girl wrote about her life and how she is an orphan because her dad was shot and her mother committed suicide a few days later. I almost choked when I read it. I felt so powerless; I am just a teacher, what can I do. It is very difficult but I have to remind myself that I am giving these children an education. I am giving them something which will help them in the future and they are SO grateful for that.

      Education is extremely important – one of the biggest things I have learnt here.

      That is just one of the projects I have been working on and is coming to an end in the next few days. They are learning excel next and for their own sake I have passed that onto a new volunteer as the word ‘illiterate’ is actually true for me when it comes to excel! 

      I can safely say my first month in Cameroon has been one of the best in my life. People here want change to happen and they are unbelievably motivated. The NGO is great in the sense you can get on with everything yourself; if you have an idea you can make it happen and they will help you as much as they can. I love it here and am learning more and more everyday.