Patricia Gilhooley returned to Locks Heath Junior School this week after teaching school children in Africa for a year.
Pat Gilhooley dedicated a year voluntarily teaching in Africa (Pic: VSO/Ben Langdon)
She has been telling pupils at the school in Warsash Road about her extraordinary experiences of teaching with charity Voluntary Services Overseas (VSO) in Ethiopia.
The 57-year-old from Fareham taught English and worked to support and build relationships between the teacher training college in the town of Finote-Selam and 13 primary schools, in and out of the town, to help improve the quality of teaching.
With an ambition to teach abroad, she discussed her plans with her husband Jim, 56, to whom she has been married for 30 years. And with his support she got in touch with the charity and began her journey last year.
She said: “It’s something I always wanted to do, so I sat down with Jim to discuss whether it was feasible financially and how it would impact our lives.
“I had a really great year and feel like I’ve learnt so much. I felt that I was able to make an impact. I feel it’s been a very positive experience for me and I feel I’m bringing back a different view of education.
“I had never been to Africa at all before so I had no expectations or any idea of what it would be like.
“I was really struck by just how poor people are and they really do struggle in every way. For some people it’s a struggle just to be able to afford a pen to write with.
A family Pat lived with in Ethiopia (Pic: VSO/Ben Langdon)
“I found people extremely resourceful – they would recycle, re-use and repair things. Everything was used and nothing was ever wasted.”
When giving advice on British teaching methods, she would help the African teachers to incorporate more group activity work as an alternative to standing in front of the class dictating the lessons to around 50 children. She taught children from five years of age to 14-year-olds, as well as the adult teachers at the college.
Pat learnt to speak Amharic, and adapted to the differing clock hours and 13-month calendar.
She added: “The thing I found hard was the lack of water. Until you don’t have water I don’t think you realise how much you need it. Gradually you realise how resourceful the teachers are there. I learned from them, as well as sharing with them how we teach.
“It’s given me a lot of confidence about my teaching because I was in lots of different situations.
“It has given me a different view of the world seeing people happy with what they’ve got and trying to improve their lives and create development.”
Being away from her husband was a difficult transition, but it was a great experience for them as individuals.
A school in Ethiopia (Pic: VSO/Ben Langdon)
“Jim’s done a wonderful job keeping the family together, even through some family crises,” said Pat.
“Not having a traditional Christmas was something I missed. But it was different to see how different Christians celebrated Christmas.
“The people were wonderful and I felt incredibly safe. People were so glad that I’d come and were so keen that I would have a positive experience of their culture.”
Although Pat has been missing life in Africa, she was glad to return to Locks Heath Juniors and added: “I had such a lovely welcome back. The parents and the children have been full of questions.
“I was teaching the children a few words in Amharic, such as ‘good morning’ and they practised saying it with their shoulders touching, as that’s how they do it over there.
“I’m very grateful that the governors were so supportive and they really made it a possibility.”
She recommended anyone to join VSO to dedicate time to the students and teachers in Africa and added: “The best way to support is to do what I did, not just sending money, but to send them with skills.”
She will be giving a talk on her experiences on September 16 at 3.30pm at St Philip Howard Church Hall in Bishopsfield Rd, Fareham.
You can sponsor VSO through Pat’s justgiving page at www.justgiving.com/Pat-Gilhooley.