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Inspired learning leads local to Namibia

“Pupils’ parents said they loved Australia, but were also sad to leave their homes in Africa, where one of the biggest problems is the lack of schools and facilities,” Sarah said. “I decided I wanted to help work with a local community to develop and build up their education system.”

Education graduate Sarah Forgan Doane, 26, was inspired to use her skills to improve education in Africa after teaching at a Sydney school full of children from Africa.

Part way through a Masters in Education (Communities and Social Justice) Sarah is now working with teachers and students in Namibia in Western Africa.

Sarah visits schools to see what support the teachers need, gives demonstration lessons, and organises and presents workshops for teachers on how to teach reading and phonics to young students.

“I have worked with teachers to create big books and shared reading texts,” Sarah said. “The children have improved dramatically. It has been fantastic.

“The thing I love most is seeing the teachers’ faces after they have developed something new at a workshop, and how proud they are of their new resources and skills. After my second workshop the teachers were so grateful they did a dance of praise for me. It was a very humbling experience.”

Visit http://web.mac.com/sarahdoane to find out more about Sarah’s life.