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This weekend I started teaching English classes at Ombreira. Ombreira is a small community on the outskirts of the small city of Pentecoste. Luckily, it is not as far out in the country as some of the other PRECE communities. Therefore, the members of the community benefit from modern conveniences like paved roads, a water/sewage system and small stores/restaurants. EPC Ombreira (Cooperative Public School) is a thriving location where children gather for a variety of classes and activities and teenagers join to study for the university entrance exam. Life at EPC Ombreira is energetic and active to say the least! Children can be found taking hip hop dance lessons, playing chess and learning karate. And, teenagers constantly gather in small groups to prepare for the difficult vestibular test. And, most recently we have added an English course on Saturday afternoons. An English class for which 50 students showed up!!!!!!!!! 50 students!!?!?!?!?! How does one teach 50 students?!?!?! Guess I will find out.
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Now I can guarantee that these students didn’t all show up because of the teacher (me). The reason that they showed up for class is because the hunger for education here is so great. Students- from the youngest child to the seasoned adult- are looking for something more. They desire to learn more, to grow more and to excel more. The success of PRECE is because PRECE is one of the few entities in the rural areas that is satisfying that hunger for knowledge. The students’ willingness to make education a priority and to dedicate themselves not only to their own education but the education of the entire community is what is making the difference in the countryside. My dad would call it a strong work ethic (something that he valued and demanded from his daughters), but it’s more than that. It’s the realization that education is an equalizer and the vision and drive to achieve that education despite constant obstacles. These students are truly amazing and I am lucky to have the opportunity to learn from them and grow with them!
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This weekend I started teaching English classes at Ombreira. Ombreira is a small community on the outskirts of the small city of Pentecoste. Luckily, it is not as far out in the country as some of the other PRECE communities. Therefore, the members of the community benefit from modern conveniences like paved roads, a water/sewage system and small stores/restaurants. EPC Ombreira (Cooperative Public School) is a thriving location where children gather for a variety of classes and activities and teenagers join to study for the university entrance exam. Life at EPC Ombreira is energetic and active to say the least! Children can be found taking hip hop dance lessons, playing chess and learning karate. And, teenagers constantly gather in small groups to prepare for the difficult vestibular test. And, most recently we have added an English course on Saturday afternoons. An English class for which 50 students showed up!!!!!!!!! 50 students!!?!?!?!?! How does one teach 50 students?!?!?! Guess I will find out..JPG)
Now I can guarantee that these students didn’t all show up because of the teacher (me). The reason that they showed up for class is because the hunger for education here is so great. Students- from the youngest child to the seasoned adult- are looking for something more. They desire to learn more, to grow more and to excel more. The success of PRECE is because PRECE is one of the few entities in the rural areas that is satisfying that hunger for knowledge. The students’ willingness to make education a priority and to dedicate themselves not only to their own education but the education of the entire community is what is making the difference in the countryside. My dad would call it a strong work ethic (something that he valued and demanded from his daughters), but it’s more than that. It’s the realization that education is an equalizer and the vision and drive to achieve that education despite constant obstacles. These students are truly amazing and I am lucky to have the opportunity to learn from them and grow with them! 
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