Annemiek Miller, education development in Rwanda
A teacher from Canada journeys to Rwanda to help teach the teachers in participatory education techniques. She also supported peace and reconciliation initiatives and helped develop a nursery school project.
Having spent most of her career as a French teacher in independent, Toronto-based schools in Canada, Annemiek Miller decided upon early retirement that she wanted to continue working in education but in a different part of the world.
"When I retired from teaching in Toronto, I took a year off to find another context where I could continue to work in education,” she explains.
CUSO-VSO proved to be the best way for her to continue her passion of being involved in education, as they provided her with good opportunities and committed support for overseas service placements.
Due to Rwanda being a bilingual French-English country, Annemiek’s fluency in French was an asset. The greatest appeal of her overseas placement was her ability to assume a position of leadership. Having acquired many skills as a department head at one independent school, Annemiek was ready to work together with Rwandan head teachers and primary teachers in order to better serve the educational experience of their students.
Annemiek’s placement was with the Education Office of the Kigeme Diocese of the Anglican Church of Rwanda. The Diocese was affiliated with 42 primary schools and three high schools serving over 22,000 students and teachers, in a rural and very poor region. Annemiek particularly cherished how the Rwandan primary school pupils were very anxious to learn despite the limited infrastructure and resources.
“I lived in a community where poverty was all around me. It was enriching to live and work among Rwandans of varying ages and help them in the improvement of their schools despite the very limited infrastructure.”
Not your ordinary school
Annemiek had autonomy to be creative, make connections, and build a community program that was unlike any she took part in Canada.
“I tried to open all channels amongst friends and acquaintances both in Rwanda and outside to find funds to help set up projects and deliver workshops.”
She was able to do some significant fundraising through contacts that she had in the Netherlands, which was subsequently matched by the Dutch government. The money she raised supported the production of learning materials as well as training for teachers, and will continue to be used until 2010 for a Rwandan nursery school project. In support of this three-year project, Annemiek helped hire a local coordinator whom she was able to train in the first year of the program.
A very interesting aspect of Annemiek’s time in Rwanda was the role of peace and reconciliation initiatives pertaining to the genocide that took place in Rwanda in 1994. At times, social tensions were apparent in subtle forms of discrimination. Annemiek’s focus remained resolutely upon providing service for the wellbeing of others.
A typical day for Annemiek began at 7am, with a meditative reflection on the day ahead for all Diocesan office staff. Following this, she would do office work on planning and report writing or commute for up to two hours by motorbike to teach or give small workshops.
Teaching the teachers
Annemiek would offer 3-4 day workshops where teachers learned new participatory techniques. Teachers were housed in the Diocesan Guesthouse, with the costs being covered by the funds raised. Her workshops were appreciated locally to such an extent that she was approached by organisations such as World Vision to do additional trainings.
Annemiek’s experiences in Rwanda were so fulfilling that she is looking to return to Africa to contribute her voluntary services again.
