Holiday Programme provides a learning boost

In the quiet villages of Jana and Mabala in rural Blantyre, there’s a buzz of excitement going around. Rather than taking a break from learning during the school holidays, a group of determined Standard 8 primary students are focused on getting the most out of Hope4Development’s school Holiday Programme at Hope Skills Centre.

The programme is an initiative designed to help learners in their final year to strengthen their English language skills and prepare for secondary school.

Why does this programme make a difference?

For many students in our communities, the transition from Standard 8 to Form 1 is one of the most challenging academic leaps they will face.

Secondary school not only introduces more complex subjects but also shifts the language of instruction almost entirely to English. It’s a barrier to learning that can be discouraging for students who haven’t had much exposure to using English in everyday conversation.

Recognising this challenge, Hope4Development launched the Holiday Programme to bridge the gap and equip students with the tools they need to succeed in Form 1 and beyond.

All about the programme

The programme runs every Monday and Tuesday morning and is led by Andrea, Hope4Development’s Literacy Coordinator, and Chrissy, a local sponsored student who recently completed university.

It blends academic teaching with life skills and faith development, using a range of interactive activities to help the children engage and grow in knowledge.

Teaching in schools is always delivered from the front of the class or from a shared textbook. The teaching methods used on this programme are intentionally varied to suit different learning styles, enabling students to learn in new and engaging ways.

By the end of primary school, most lessons are taught in English, so the children’s learning is limited by their understanding of the language. When they begin secondary school, teaching is in English, so a higher level of English, in terms of understanding and language use, is required.

We decided to focus on reading, writing, speaking and listening to help the children understand and develop their English skills.

Through games, dramas, storytelling, and structured reading time, the students practise their English skills in a safe and encouraging environment.

All teaching is delivered in English, with time taken to ensure everyone understands and to encourage the students to speak English while on campus. This helps build confidence, understanding and fluency, especially for students who’ve had little chance to practise English outside the classroom.

Our main aims were to help the children starting secondary school:

• to understand teachers’ teaching

• to hold simple conversations in English

• to read with comprehension

• to take effective notes in English

• to read and answer questions clearly (a necessary skill as exams are conducted in English)

Sessions include:

English

Andrea, guided by Rebecca, a trustee of Hope4Malawi, has been delivering English sessions to help the children understand and use basic English.

Rebecca designed these sessions herself, based on a booklet created for teaching English as a second language, which she used when teaching Standard 8 learners during a visit to Malawi in 2024.

Reading

Chrissy leads guided reading sessions most days, exploring a text with the children to help them read words fluently and develop an understanding of the language used.

So far, they have been reading You Are Special, a book by Max Lucado. The book teaches important messages about self-worth, identity, and God's unconditional love.

They have focused on understanding the vocabulary, enabling them to recognise and explain the messages within the book, retrieve information from the text to answer questions, sequence events from the story, and practice making inferences and predictions.

Agriculture

Aubrey, Hope4Development’s Farming Coordinator, has been running “iLearnabout” sessions with the students. In these sessions so far, they have been learning about the importance of soil.

Health

The students have been learning about common illnesses and diseases, as well as how to care for their mental and physical health. These sessions are led by Harriet, Hope4Development’s Healthy Living coordinator.

Mathematics

As a core subject, we have also included some Mathematics teaching to help the students deepen their knowledge and understanding ahead of starting secondary school.

Devotions

Andrew, Hope4Development’s YDP coordinator and student mentor, has been delivering some fantastic sessions based on scripture, helping students to lay down a foundation of faith and biblical understanding. Five children decided they wanted to follow Jesus and prayed a prayer of commitment.

The difference is already visible. Students who once hesitated to speak English are now voluntarily sharing ideas and answering questions in the sessions.

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Can you help a child in Malawi?

Thanks to the support of our partners, sponsors, fundraisers and volunteers, Hope4Malawi's Youth Development programmes, school building projects, resourcing initiatives, and student sponsorships continue to provide life-changing opportunities for children in rural Blantyre.

For further information on how to get involved, please contact us.