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Exchange opens eyes of Ugandan visitor, Stouffville students LEARNING: N. American waste hard to stomach for African teacher . enard Yiga learned to write in the dirt with a stick. His school house had six classrooms that were so overcrowded, classes were moved outside on nice days. He and his five younger siblings walked a total of 14km to and from school everyday. Mr. Yiga, 25, grew up in the Musalta Bukoto Village in south- ern Uganda where before school he fetched water and fed the animals that would eventually land on their dinner table. “My family would not even be considered to be average," he said. “Very impoverished." Needless “to say, when Mr. Yiga arrived in Whitchurch-Stouffville last summer to work as a teacher’s Every December, Willowgrove stu- dents participate in a giving project in which they raise money for a charity. Last year, the students decided they wanted to raise money for desks at Uganda's StJude school, where Benard Ylga teaches. Each student had a jar and every day they were asked to contribute to it. For example, one day they were asked to put a penny in the jar for every stuffed toy they had at home. Another day they were asked to add a dime to their jar for every bed in their house. At the end of the campaign,WI|â€" lowgrove raised more than $1,000, which purchased about 20 desks that will be used by 70 students. Stouffville students buy desks for Affican sdlool tnohoarlnotmu It} BY SANDRA BOLAN sbolan@yrmg.com - SALES and SERVICE to ALL IAAKES 0F HEARIIIG AIDS - Tinnitus Thoan - 0 ADP. ISIS. DVA AUTHORIZED DISPENSERS - no CHARGE All Inclusl OHurInW - Mano Barium: - HOSHARSE All Inclusl OMAIIEVIIIIIIMB OSADIVFIIISIMGIIO om»: Harm All Accused-s - Auoclllu WIIII EH'I’ (l 'MWQWWW ~FuIITImEmrIomII OWMM-WMMMM OIMTO'SOMYII “It was hard for me, even still now," he said ’ Before returning home last month. MI. Yiga was overwhelmed by the very things North Americans take for grantett Walmart, McDonâ€" ald’ , snow and computers. assistant at Willowgrove, he suf- fered from culture shock. While hewas all too happy to learn how to surf the web and eat aBigMac,theonethinng.Yiga could not wrap his head around was our wastefillness “Here, people have too much supplies," he said, noting only some of the wealthiest students in Ugan- da would have textbooks. Younger studentsleamedhowtowriteinthe dirtâ€"soastonotwastepaper and Iristead, the questions were writ- ten on the chalkboard and students would have to write their answers on whatever pieces of paper were available “It’s so to imagine." said Geralde r-Grooters, junior] senior kindétganen teacher at the McGowan Road school. Mr. Yiga spent the last year assisting in Mrs. Reesorâ€"Grooters class. “For me personally, he was so helpful," she said. “He jumped in with both feet, even though- he doesn’t teach this age." In Uganda, Mt. Ylga teaches math and science to students in grades five through seven: Mr. Yiga arrived at Willowgrove through the International Volun- teer Exchange Program, which is a vocational and cultural experience for 18- to 30-year-olds. While Mr. Yiga learned a lot about the North Amen'can educa- tional system, he also taught the students at Willowgmve a lot about life in Uganda. “The'ldds here now can speak Luganda. count from one to 10 in the tribal language for Banganda and they can dance my cultural dance very well," he said. Benard Yiga works with children at Willowgrove School in Whitchurch-Stouflville earlier this year. “We should see value in how their six children, let alone send “He guided me and told me ifl they dothingsaswell," Mrs. Reesor- the eldest to law school. In Uganda, take that course, in the future, I’d Grooters said. people have to pay for all of their be able to join any other course," Already a recycler and one to re- education, whether it be in the he said. use materials where possnble, Mr. public or Christian systems _ Mr. Yiga no plans to change Already a recycler and one to re- use materials where possnble, Mr. Yiga’s presence at the school made Mrs. Reesorâ€"Grooters even more conscious about how wasteful our society can be. LAW SCHOOL COS'I'LY For example, arts and crafts with macaroni no longer takes place. A “That's food' and here we're stringing them together to make necklaces." she said. Despite Mr. Yiga’s impoverished childhood, he had big dreams and lmewwhatitwasgoingtotakein order to fulfill them - an education. Those dreams had Mr. Yiga in the courtroom, like his But then reality came crash- ing down. His family could barely afictd to put food on the table each night and pay for the education of PARK o Tlnnltua Thoraoy 0 NO CHARGE All lnclualvo Loss and Damaoo Insurance - 1 yoar 0 NO CHARGE All Incluam Ianutoctorora Warranty - 2 yoara - 34 Boy Fall Sanataotton Goarantoa - Auoctatal wan ENT (Ear, ttooo and Throat) Doctor 0 Full ulna Emma Gartltlad Anilologtsta So desperate was Mr. Yiga, and his parents, to have him educated. the family approached their church for some financial aid. The church, according to Mr. Ylga, provided bursaries to orphans who wanted to attend post-sec- ondary school. But as both of Mr. Yiga's parents were alive, the family had to request an exemption. It was granted. However, the bursary was not enough to pay for all of law school -â€" just half. But the Yiga family could not come up with the other The church's bishop suggested Mr.Yiga pursue another career path â€" teaching, In conjunction with assistance from the church, the program only required students to come up with a quarter ofthe cost The Audiology Centre Established 1986 1333 Sheppard Ave. E.. Susteit 340 Mr. Yiga has no plans to change careers, as he knows the value of a job in Uganda, despite their educational system's challenges. For example, at any given time, a teacher can have 100 students. FOOD, NOT CRAFTS “There is no way the teachers can help each student,” he Of those students who make it all the way through grade school. only a fraction of them will take and pass the governmentâ€"sanctioned exam required to move on to high school. The success rate is better in the Christian-based school system, but not much, Mr. Yiga said. 1243 Islington Ave., Suite# 71 1 Without “papers”, or a diploma. according to Mr. Yiga, people can’t work and must therefore, rely on labourer jobs, which are low paying and scarce. ETOBICOKE 41 6-233-8581 West End Hearing Established 1991 STAFF PHOTO/MIKE BARRETT