Growing Through Reading
Nine-year-old Josephine Mulenga stands out in a class of 39 3rd and 4th-graders. Not because she tries to, but because of how fluently she reads. Her teacher, Grace, describes her as confident, self-motivated, and eager to learn. She puts a lot of thought into what she does and enjoys learning new things.
“She is very sharp,” Grace shared with a smile. “She reminds me of myself growing up, determined not to fail. That’s why she’s one of the best readers in my class.”
Teacher Grace and Josephine
Josephine’s progress did not happen overnight. It began four years ago when she enrolled at Good Shepherd Community School as a kindergartner. It was during this same time the school began receiving literacy training and mentoring from Impact One. Since then, the teachers have successfully implemented a phonics-based approach, giving Josephine and her classmates the foundation they needed to grow as readers. Today, Josephine is reading well above her grade level.
Teacher Grace’s teaching has also grown over the years. She is continuously learning new strategies from Impact One to make her lessons more fun and engaging. She has created a safe learning environment where all her students feel supported and encouraged to participate. This year’s reading assessment results show that 74% of her students are readers, with Josephine reading at the highest level.
Grace shared, “Most of my students can read. Out of the whole class, only a few are reading at beginner level, and that’s because they are new students.”
“Teaching is much easier and fun when students can read. They enjoy the lessons and participate in everything.”
But why does this matter, you might ask? Across Zambia, countless children reach adolescence and even adulthood without ever learning to read. They move from one grade to the next without ever grasping the basics of literacy. Many eventually fail, repeat grades, or drop out altogether from shame. Girls are especially vulnerable, often facing early marriages, early pregnancies, and lost opportunities.
Josephine’s story gives hope that when a child learns to read, they are motivated to stay in school. They become confident, driven, and are able to dream again.
Grace summed it up simply, “Teaching is much easier and fun when students can read. They enjoy the lessons and participate in everything.”
This is the impact unfolding inside classrooms every day - stories of teachers gaining confidence to teach and children taking small, consistent steps to learn to read and write. Steps that lead to a brighter future.
And it is happening because teachers like Grace are empowered, children like Josephine are supported, and communities like Ng’ombe are transformed forever.
Thank you for believing in these children. For empowering and equipping our teachers. For unlocking potential in Ng’ombe, one school, one teacher, and one child at a time.
Teacher Grace’s 3rd and 4th grade class