The Luxury of Dreams

When you sponsor a child with World Vision you bring much more to the community than a simple donation. World Vision brings programmes ranging from agriculture to education, including helping to ensure children get the best of starts in life by learning core literacy skills. Emmanuel is just one registered child who is now able to dream of being a doctor because he's finally learned how to read.

By Eric Imbuwa, World Vision Communicator

In a community where just the basic necessities of life are hard to come by, dreams are a luxury, and yet 13-year-old Emmanuel dares to dream.

“My dream is to be a doctor so that I can help the sick in Zambia as a whole,” he says. “It breaks my heart to see a lot of people walking long distances to access medical care because there is no hospital or clinic nearby.”

Emmanuel is the firstborn in a family of five children – all boys – and lives with both his parents in one of World Vision Zambia’s Area Development Programmes (ADP).

Emmanuel is working hard in school to attain his dream. In the last exams, he was the fifth in a class of 44 pupils and is aiming to become first this term.

“My favourite subjects are English, creative technology studies and social development studies,” says Emmanuel.

Before World Vision introduced the Reading Circle programme as part of its wider work with the schools and community, Emmanuel says he couldn’t read.

“We started learning by making a circle and then each one stands in the circle and reads out loud in front of everyone. People who could not manage to read like me would be helped, even after class, by those the teachers assigned to do so,” Emmanuel explains. “The next time we meet, we are asked to read again. So that is how I learnt how to read.”

When Emmanuel is not studying, he helps his mother with household chores and goes to play football, his favourite sport.

“I struggled in reading, but I have now improved and I can stand to read to the crowd. My grades in class are better because every exercise we are given, one has to read to understand the question,” Emmanuel says.

Leah, Emmanuel’s mother, wants her son to be the best and that is why she is committed to her son’s education.

“I want him to be an educated child who will take care of his siblings in the future. He is our hope in the family and I will do everything possible to have him attain his dream of becoming a medical doctor,” Leah says.

Nyirenda Zgangan, Emmanuel’s teacher, says that Emmanuel’s school attendance is excellent and that his participation in class is good.

“Emmanuel is a good pupil, he can read English and adheres to instructions; I have no problems with him. He just needs close coaching in mathematics, English and science, now that he has learnt how to read,” says Nyirenda. “World Vision’s sponsorship programme has helped the school so much that all of the children’s performances have improved.”

Nyirenda says World Vision has also trained teachers in managing reading circle programme.

“Reading circle has allowed positive competition among children to thrive, encouraging pupils to participate hence improving their reading skills, resulting in better class performance. Those who have recorded improvements are selected and put in groups to assist others,” the teacher says.

Emmanuel is just one happy pupil who has improved his reading skills through school literature and the supporting work that World Vision has provided.

Now Emmanuel can read, what book would you send to him if you could? Tell us your childhood favourites in the comments.