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Where we do it > Rwanda - Mary McCarthy

Name: Mary McCarthy
Location: Nyanza, Rwanda
Role: English Teacher, Christ Roi Nyanza

Through better teacher training, improved inspectorates and introducing computers in schools, it is hoped Rwanda’s education system will go some of the way to being rebuilt following the genocide. Mary McCarthy is a VSO volunteer working as an English language teacher in Nyanza in a secondary school. This post is still in great demand in Rwanda as over a third of teachers were killed or exiled during the genocide.

Mary thinks her start as a volunteer was a fairly straightforward one: ‘I spent a while teaching English in Spain after I graduated, but I really wanted to find work with a charity. After a friend of mine volunteered, I realised that VSO would be the one place where I could really use my experience and background.’

‘I came to Rwanda knowing that I’ll be improving skills that are already in place. The teaching system is very good here; VSO has been sending volunteers to Rwanda since 1997. This was when the Ministry of Education sought classroom support following huge losses in qualified teachers during the genocide of 1994. So we’ve been in Rwanda a while – we have a foothold, we just need to add to what’s already been implemented.’

Education is looked on as a privilege for most secondary school children, ‘We’ve had a project in my Senior 4 class, where they were writing to a group of fourth years in Dublin. And to see the appreciation of learning here, even if it’s only one or two words, people say, “We are learning English, it’s important to study, we need to learn, we need to do this”. Whereas letters coming from Dublin were much more “Aah, we have to go school, we have to be in school at 8.30”, the kids here are up at 5.30 and go to bed around 11pm so the emphasis is placed on studying, and if you do study, it’s a privilege and one you should appreciate.’

The key to working in Nyanza for Mary is that she is with a supportive group of teachers. She enjoys sitting down and talking about lessons and ways of teaching. ‘If there’s something cultural I can ask them to clarify it for me. They’re a supportive group of people, and it’s an informal relationship we have.’

‘I think when you are a teacher of any kind you have to be flexible and that’s definitely tested here. You learn to adapt quite fast. It’s obviously more extreme because you are away from anything that is familiar, but having worked in different classrooms and with different age groups, in Spain and in Dublin and with many different nationalities, you learn to adapt to the group of students you have. And also you have to be a good communicator, and that’s not only useful in class here at school, but also in the community where I live.’

The impact of working in Nyanza for Mary can be measured personally and professionally. ‘Professionally, the students’ level of English has improved, both written and spoken. And in terms of other teachers, I’ve learnt a lot from them, and I think we’ve both been able to share ideas about teaching. Personally, there are people here I know I will stay in touch with when I leave. They are not just colleagues or students, they are people who I have developed a good relationship with. ‘

One of Mary’s colleagues, Professor Mawazo Kaserko has seen the impact Mary has had in the school, ‘what she has done, and what other volunteers have done here is vital. We share teaching methods with each other such as the way she uses pieces of paper with single words written on them to teach vocabulary. Mary also started and ran the English club. This was for students and teachers. This year, we’ve changed the strategy to it being a teacher’s club that she runs. The work all the VSO volunteers have done here has helped us in so many ways.’

Mary hopes that when she leaves Rwanda, the students are speaking better English and also are more confident around others and in their learning. ‘Something I won’t miss is the Rwandan pints of Guinness. I love the people, I love the food, especially the fruit, but the Guinness, it’s not the same as at home, it’s hard but I’ve rejected it entirely while I’ve been here. I think I’ll wait until I get back to Dublin to have another pint.’

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