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National Exam (MSCE) results out!!!
Hello everyone,
I have some wonderful news from Malawi to share. The results for the Form 4 National Exams, the MSCE (Malawi School Certificate of Education) have been released and I am thrilled to report that our Form 4 girls have achieved a 95% pass rate. The national pass rate was 54%. The national pass rate includes boys as well as urban students. All 73 of our APU students are rural girls. It would be interesting to know what the national pass rate for rural girls was. Memory and I suspect that it is less that 15%.
Christie Johnson
Co-founder and Executive Director
Atsikana Pa Ulendo (Girls on the Move) Malawi Education Foundation
650 Pearson College Dr.
Victoria, BC V9C 4H7
I have some wonderful news from Malawi to share. The results for the Form 4 National Exams, the MSCE (Malawi School Certificate of Education) have been released and I am thrilled to report that our Form 4 girls have achieved a 95% pass rate. The national pass rate was 54%. The national pass rate includes boys as well as urban students. All 73 of our APU students are rural girls. It would be interesting to know what the national pass rate for rural girls was. Memory and I suspect that it is less that 15%.
Christie Johnson
Co-founder and Executive Director
Atsikana Pa Ulendo (Girls on the Move) Malawi Education Foundation
650 Pearson College Dr.
Victoria, BC V9C 4H7
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Goodbye Agogo - You will be missed
It is with deep sadness we inform you of the death of APU Malawi's greatest benefactor and friend, Agogo to all the girls at APU, Ken Haywood. Ken died in Edmonton on November 25th at the age of 83 years. An active Rotarian, Ken was moved by Christie and Memory's desire to establish a secondary school for girls in Malawi. Using his remarkable networking and communication skills, he rallied behind them, encouraging others to follow his example and to give generously to the cause. What you have read in previous posts here is largely due to Ken's unfailing devotion to APU Malawi. All of us at APU Malawi send condolences to Ken's wife Sheila and his family. We will all miss his leadership, his integrity, and his love.
Ode For Ken
Though i never saw youI felt your presence
Though I never met you
I heard your eloquence.
Though I never faced you
I got to know your mind
As if your thoughts were carried in the wind
When we started the journey
You took the first step
When the road was rough
You made us laugh
When the climb got steep
You gave a tip
When it was impossible
You did the plausible
Goodbye Ken
Goodbye Agogo
See you then
Rest not in Agony
And when things got tight
You fought with your life
HJM.
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APU Fundraising and Information Tour 2012
February | 2012 |
Sunday | Monday | Tuesday | Wednesday | Thursday | Friday | Saturday |
1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | |||
Henry arrives | ||||||
5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | 10 | 11 |
12:00 Royal Oak 6:00 Saanich RC | 12:00 Oak Bay | 6:30AM Harbourside 12:15 Sooke 6:30 SMUS | 7:15 Sidney By The Sea 12:00 Victoria RC 7:00 Metchosin House | 12:00 Westshore | 8:15 H and C to Edmonton | |
12 | 13 | 14 | 15 | 16 | 17 | 18 |
12:00 Barrhead 3:45 Terwilligar 6:00 Stony Plain + | 7:00 Morinville | 7:00 Northern Lights RC 12:00 Whitecourt | 7:00 St. Albert 5:30 DC Interact | |||
19 | 20 | 21 | 22 | 23 | 24 | 25 |
H and C to Calgary | 7:00 Cochrane 12:00 RC Calgary | 12:00 Rocky Mtn House | 7:00 Olds Drive to Lethbridge | 8:45 Catholic TC 10:30 Alberta TC | ||
26 | 27 | 28 | 29 | |||
12:00 RC Lethbridge 5:00 Lethbridge Urban Spirits | 12:00 RC Kiwanis 6:00 Lethbridge East | 7:30 Business Professional Group 4:00 U of L Health Sciences 7:00 U of L Rotaract | 7:00 Lethbridge Sunrise 9:00 to Calgary 6:15 Henry’s departure | |||
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APU TOUR - Day 26
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| Henry outside the Victoria Legislature |
It has been a whirlwind of a month filled with speaking engagements, meetings, and fundraisers, with the occasional bit of recreation and pure fun thrown in! Everywhere we go the energy of APU supporters helps to motivate us and the growing momentum of support for our GIRLS ON THE MOVE is evident in the number of people who are eager to share their ideas, support, and energy as well as pledging their support in the form of sponsorships for our girls, and funding for construction.
It is snowing outside today and I am personally very pleased that Henry is finally learning about a real Alberta winter after such unseasonably warm weather. Today is a much needed day off and Henry is spending the day learning to snowshoe and ski at Castle Mountain in Pincher Creek. It hasn't taken him long to figure out which button to press to turn on the seat warmer and is racing me for the front seat in any vehicle that might have one. We are both feeling a wee bit sluggish after too many hours riding in cars on the way to make various presentations and too many rich meals at Rotary meetings, but we certainly can't complain!
Schools Visited:
SMUS Senior School
Pearson College
Interact Clubs
Terwilligar
Dawson Creek
Oak Bay
Rotaract Clubs Visited:
University of Lethbridge
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| Rotary Club of Olds, Alberta, Cheque Presentation |
GREATER VICTORIA DISTRICT
Royal Oak
Saanich
Nanaimo Daybreak
Oak Bay
Oak Bay
Harbourside
Sooke
Sidney By The Sea
Victoria
Westshore
ALBERTA
Barrhead
Stony Plain
Spruce Grove
Parkland After Dark
Morinville
Northern Lights
Whitecourt
St. Albert
Cochrane
RC of Calgary Downtown
RC Calgary South
Lethbridge
Kiwanis
Lethbridge East
Lethbridge Urban Spirits
Lethbridge Sunrise
Community Visits
Metchosin House
University of Lethbridge Health Sciences
Southern Alberta Teacher's Convention
As you can see, Henry and I have truly been ON THE MOVE in an attempt to keep Atsikana Pa Ulendo also ON THE MOVE!
Take care everyone, and thanks for all of your support!
Christie
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| Simon, Laura, Henry, boating in Pedder Bay, Vancouver Island |
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| Christie and Henry, Calgary Stampede Grounds |
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| Henry & Maness at the Observatory, Pearson College |
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| Henry's First Sled Ride |
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| Rotary Club of Calgary Downtown |
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Friend Development Committee Report, March 2012
Here's a summary of what's been happening over the past little while:
- 1500 people heard presentations by Henry Mdetseni (Project Manager at APU in Malawi) and Christie Johnson (Executive Director, APU-MEF Canada) during the month of February. Hundreds of these people are current or past donors who were very eager to receive an update about APU.
- Everyone who has contributed to the sponsorship of an APU student since 2007 received a letter of thanks that included, where possible, letters from their students and current pictures of their students.
- Everyone who has contributed to APU construction (including electricity, wells, etc.) since 2007 received a letter of thanks and an update about the school's progress to date.
- Every Rotary Club that has contributed to APU has received a detailed letter reporting on their contributions to date, an 8'' by 10'' 2011 Gradation Photo, and a carefully written request for further funding.
- Every Rotary Club that Henry and Christie visited has received a follow-up letter, including a request for funding.
- APU Photobooks have been distributed to Sheila Haywood, Anne McClellan, and the Interact Club of Dawson Creek.
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Lethbridge Rotary Club donates laptops
Tania Stilson from the Rotary Club of Lethbridge has managed to collect 67 laptops for APU. She has arranged for them all to be 'cleaned' for free and is now working on figuring out how to get them to Malawi.
Now we need to ensure that there is a classroom space to set these computers up in. Eventually the computer lab will be located in the Admin/TTCC (Teachers Training College Complex) building. Once the Science Lab is finished the computer lab can be set up in one of the currently used classroom spaces and the Science Lab (4 learning spaces) can be used as classroom space.
A HUGE THANK-YOU TO TANIA AND THE LETHBRIDGE ROTARY CLUB!
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Construction Update at APU Malawi
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| Laboratory North View |
APU Project Manager Henry Mdyetseni and his locally-trained labour crew are working almost beyond their capacity to complete four parallel construction projects. Their goal is to complete these projects by Sept 2012.
The science lab, begun in 2010, is now 75% complete. The funds for the completion of this building were recently donated by a couple in Victoria who wish to remain anonymous. Our students and science teachers are eagerly awaiting the completion of this building so that they can enjoy learning science through hands-on experimentation in their new lab. In addition to donating towards the construction, this same couple donated an extra $10,000 to be put towards the purchase of science equipment for the lab.
Staff Duplex #3 is already 60% complete. This is incredible progress, as this building was only just begun in March. Henry and his team have been moving full steam ahead on this building as it must be ready by the end of August in order to satisfy the requirements of the grant that helped fund the building. The funds for this building have been provided by the Rotary Club of Lethbridge. Being able to provide APU's teachers with good quality housing will make a huge difference in APU's ability to attract high quality teachers who are willing to bring their families to the rural school.
Hostel #5, an $80,000 building, is now 80% complete. The first $20,000 for this building came from the fundraiser held last June by the Women Helping Women group in Victoria. This hostel will provide accommodation for student teachers at the future APU Teacher's Training College.
Finally, the most urgent and demanding project that is being tackled at APU is the installation of the third and deepest well, as well as the construction of a second water tower. APU has been suffering from a severe water shortage due to the fact that the original wells were not producing a high enough volume of water for the school's water needs. Three Rotary Clubs on Vancouver Island: Sooke, West Shore, and the Oak Bay Rotary Club, have donated more than half of the funds needed for this project. With this 100-metre-deep well in place, we know that APU's water needs will be taken care of well into the future. Thank you Rotary!
The science lab, begun in 2010, is now 75% complete. The funds for the completion of this building were recently donated by a couple in Victoria who wish to remain anonymous. Our students and science teachers are eagerly awaiting the completion of this building so that they can enjoy learning science through hands-on experimentation in their new lab. In addition to donating towards the construction, this same couple donated an extra $10,000 to be put towards the purchase of science equipment for the lab.
Staff Duplex #3 is already 60% complete. This is incredible progress, as this building was only just begun in March. Henry and his team have been moving full steam ahead on this building as it must be ready by the end of August in order to satisfy the requirements of the grant that helped fund the building. The funds for this building have been provided by the Rotary Club of Lethbridge. Being able to provide APU's teachers with good quality housing will make a huge difference in APU's ability to attract high quality teachers who are willing to bring their families to the rural school.
Hostel #5, an $80,000 building, is now 80% complete. The first $20,000 for this building came from the fundraiser held last June by the Women Helping Women group in Victoria. This hostel will provide accommodation for student teachers at the future APU Teacher's Training College.
Finally, the most urgent and demanding project that is being tackled at APU is the installation of the third and deepest well, as well as the construction of a second water tower. APU has been suffering from a severe water shortage due to the fact that the original wells were not producing a high enough volume of water for the school's water needs. Three Rotary Clubs on Vancouver Island: Sooke, West Shore, and the Oak Bay Rotary Club, have donated more than half of the funds needed for this project. With this 100-metre-deep well in place, we know that APU's water needs will be taken care of well into the future. Thank you Rotary!
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| Hostel - West View |
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| Southern View |
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| Hostel |
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| Trusses |
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| Teachers' House from front |
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Circle of Women
Circle of Women , a group of undergraduate students from Harvard University, has successfully approved their proposal to partner with APU!
This partnership includes the funding of Class Block #4, the fourth and final Class Block that was called for in the original project definition for APU Girls Secondary School. The estimated cost for this building is $65,000. The furnishing of this building is estimated at $5,000. Depending on their fundraising success, Circle Of Women are hoping to have funds available so that construction of this building is begun in September, 2012.
Cerianne Robertson, Director of Circle Of Women Think Tank, visited APU from May 29th through to June 4th. The purpose of her trip is was:
a) to collect more information for impact assessment purposes,
b) get a better sense of how they might be able to continue a partnership with APU in the future &
c) to learn more from APU’s model as a young but extremely successful school for girls. Cerianne's visit was greatly appreciated by Memory, Henry and the students and we look forward to our developing relationship with Circle Of Women!
This partnership includes the funding of Class Block #4, the fourth and final Class Block that was called for in the original project definition for APU Girls Secondary School. The estimated cost for this building is $65,000. The furnishing of this building is estimated at $5,000. Depending on their fundraising success, Circle Of Women are hoping to have funds available so that construction of this building is begun in September, 2012.
Cerianne Robertson, Director of Circle Of Women Think Tank, visited APU from May 29th through to June 4th. The purpose of her trip is was:
a) to collect more information for impact assessment purposes,
b) get a better sense of how they might be able to continue a partnership with APU in the future &
c) to learn more from APU’s model as a young but extremely successful school for girls. Cerianne's visit was greatly appreciated by Memory, Henry and the students and we look forward to our developing relationship with Circle Of Women!
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CIRCLE of WOMEN - Cerianne's visit to APU
I obviously had a fantastic time and learned so, so much. It became obvious to me that APU is not only providing an education for girls who may otherwise have little opportunity to attend secondary school but is also succeeding to teach the students to be leaders who believe in their own abilities, and even responsibility, to change their communities for the better. I have not stopped telling everyone in Circle how wonderful the school is and how lucky we are to have found you!!
Thanks for your visit Cerianne! The girls at APU were so happy to meet you and we are all thrilled by the new partnership that is beginning between Circle of Women and Atsikana Pa Ulendo (APU).
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Article 13
A service was held for Ken Haywood on June 30th. Ken's ashes were spread at the base of a newly planted Baobob tree.
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Amy's Blog
Link to Amy Bronson's Blog:
Amy is the daughter of a Rotarian from the Lethbridge East Rotary Club. She is doing an internship with CIDA in Lilongwe and attended the APU graduation ceremony. She has written about her experience in her blog.
The following are recent photos of the girls and the buildings/projects at APU Malawi.
Thanks to Henry for sending them.
Amy is the daughter of a Rotarian from the Lethbridge East Rotary Club. She is doing an internship with CIDA in Lilongwe and attended the APU graduation ceremony. She has written about her experience in her blog.
The following are recent photos of the girls and the buildings/projects at APU Malawi.
Thanks to Henry for sending them.
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| Singing at Graduation |
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| Staff Duplex #3 |
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| Getting Ready for Grad |
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| Solar Panels |
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Disappointment for APU's first graduating class, the class of 2011 ... BUT THERE IS ALWAYS HOPE!
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| Tiyamike |
APU was hoping to have at least 10 graduates from our first graduating class, the class of 2011, receive government scholarships to the University of Malawi. Sadly, only 2 of our girls, Tiyamike Brave (left), and Bridget Guzani (below), were awarded scholarships.
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| Bridget |
It has been a long journey for the girls whose hearts were set on going to university. They wrote their MSCE (Form 4 national exams) in July 2011. Then they waited. They found out their results in October of 2011. Then they waited. They finally wrote their university entrance exams in March of 2012. They waited again. The names of the students selected to go to UNIMA (University Of Malawi) have just now been released. This news is heartbreaking to many of our APU graduates who, according to Henry, "poured their souls into their studies ... they worked their lungs out ..." in the hope of going to university.
This year, a total of 8507 candidates sat for the 2012 University Entrance Examination in Malawi. 6373 of these students candidates passed. Only 907 in the entire country have been granted government sponsorship to attend the university. Thankfully, this is NOT THE END OF HOPE for our graduates. We have a number of APU students who have earned the grades and the right to a university education.
The university of Malawi is now inviting applications from qualified students capable of paying tuition. The closing date for these applications is Oct 9, just a couple of weeks away.
Memory and Henry are going to advise some of their students to apply for self sponsored admission to the university in order to keep their options open. There is an outside possibility that sponsors, their villages or even their extended families might step up to cover the university tuition (approximately $2500 per year) for some of these girls.
I believe that there is a way for these girls to attend university, and we all know that they deserve it. They have made it this far ... why not keep going ... after all ... they are GIRLS ON THE MOVE!
If you are reading this post, and are interested in sponsoring one of our UNIVERSITY HOPEFULS, please contact us at support@malawigirlsonthemove.com.
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Brilliant Exam Results at APU Malawi
Christie has announced some wonderful news from APU Malawi:
The results for both the Junior Certificate Exam (JCE) and Malawi School Certificate Exam (MSCE) have been published. Our teachers and students at APU are celebrating their amazing success. Although the results for the JCE were made available in September, the results for the MSCE were only made public yesterday.
These exams were written by last year's Form 2 and Form 4 students in June 2012.
APU Form 2 students achieved a 100% pass rate on their Junior Certificate Exams. The national pass rate was 66%.
APU Form 4 students achieved a 91% pass rate on their MSC Exams. 77 APU students wrote this exam and 71 of them passed. The national pass rate was just 51%. Not only did 91% of our girls pass, but they passed with grades that are far higher than our last year results, putting APU on the map as one of the top girls' schools in the country.
This class of 77 girls started Form 1 at APU in our second year of operation. Every one of these students was on full scholarship and were selected out of thousands of applicants. This selection process was not based on academic achievement, but on the fact that they had all demonstrated courage and determination in their quest to remain in school despite their stories of hardship, orphanhood, poverty and in many cases, abuse. The fact that these girls have achieved grades equal and superior to students attending the best government and private schools in the country is truly astounding.
APU teachers have a great deal to be proud of.
Thanks everyone for your continued support!
Christie
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Global Responsibility and Global Citizenship presentations
Maness and Christie will be presenting two workshops at the Global Responsibility Young Leaders Conference to be held at St. Michaels University School (Senior Campus) on Friday, January 18th, 2013. The conference brochure can be found here: http://www.smus.ca/global
CHRISTIE JOHNSON
‘Girls Education – The Ripple Effects’
Jane & Jack Matthew’s Room
Christie knows first-hand the power of education in transforming lives. Since her travels and teaching experience in Malawi in 2000, Christie has become a passionate advocate for the rights of girls and women in Malawi. In 2006, she co-founded Atsikana Pa Ulendo (Girls On The Move) Secondary School in Malawi and in just six years, the school has grown to include 320 students, 13 buildings, employing 21 Malawian teachers, and over 300 labourers. The school is already recognized nation-wide for its reputation for academic excellence.
In addition, they will be presenting at Pearson College on Tuesday, January 22nd. The title of this event is the Global Citizenship Summit Program.
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The Third Annual Women Helping Women Garden Party! JUNE 2 from 2 till 5, 1220 TRANSIT ROAD
In the past two years, together we have raised close to $50,000 for Atsikana Pa Ulendo and we are hoping this year to raise enough money to start development on the Legacy Building. It will be at the centre of the Teacher's Training College. We have girls who have finished their secondary schooling who despite their excellent results continue to have few opportunities. Some of them have been offered places in college but they simply cannot afford to attend. What better way to help than to give them a place to study and also a profession that they can take with them to serve others. There is a shortage of primary teachers in Malawi so with this certification opportunities for employment are fairly certain. This is where we need your help! Please join us on June 2 for the 3rd Annual Women Helping Women Garden Party. Come and hear an update from Christie on developments from the girls' school; Maness will also be joining us and has some exciting news to share. If we can start construction very soon we will have a place for these girls to continue their education. The opportunity to continue is life changing. They have hope and choice for their future; they can take their teaching credentials to their village. The entire picture is different with this opportunity. Enjoy complimentary cocktails, a dynamic silent auction while sharing a lovely afternoon with incredible women...Bring your mothers, sisters, daughters and friends and your wallets! Together we can make this happen! Sarah Beeston, Laurie Parker, Bonnie Davidson, Jane Rees, Dariol Haydock, Elizabeth Rodford, Alison Weir, Michelle Driscoll, Tanya Lee, Gillian Donald, Susan Vachon, Becky Anderson, Lori Adam DATE: Sunday June 2 TIME: 2:00 to 5:00 pm ADDRESS: 1220 Transit Road |
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A Smile Box of Photos from Christie's 2013 Visit to APU
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