December 2019
2019 HAS BEEN A BIG YEAR
The admin team discusses the start of new literacy classes
This year has been amazing.  As you may recall, we spent much of 2018 revamping our curriculum, lesson plans, and methodology to make them more relevant to the lives of our students.  This year we have been able to put those changes into use, and see firsthand the impact we are having on people’s lives. Everyone on our team was fully involved in implementing our new systems.   

All of our team has witnessed the growth and effectiveness of our community health education program, including the popular weekly radio program.  Jumah (operations manager), Martin (literacy program manager), and Vivien (communications coordinator) all experienced a number of field visits with Jabez, and joined in the radio show several times.   
This year we also saw a few major crises, such as a disastrous head-on collision which completely destroyed our vehicle.  We continue to thank God for the miraculous escape from injury of all nine people involved. We are also grateful for the wonderful donation of a much needed replacement vehicle, provided by a long-time ministry friend and supporter.    
In another change, we have moved to a bigger office and can now host our teachers on-site for in-depth trainings and workshops providing them with the skills they need to be effective in their communities. In the next few months we will also be holding several major, multi-day trainings for teachers in methods, curriculum, and entrepreneurship.  
It has indeed been a struggle as we have been constantly short of funds.  We are grateful that we have been able to do so much with so little.   Much of this is only possible because we have a staff that is still willing to work for very low pay in order to support our efforts, because they really believe in our mission.  We hope that if donations increase we can support them better and even add to their capacity and skills.   

Currently, we have nine communities anxiously waiting to begin literacy classes in the Karamoja/Pokot/Sebei region, the least developed areas of the country and the most in need of literacy and health education.  Each of these classes costs around $350 per month, which doesn’t sound like much, but it adds up to more than $36,000 for the year.  We have teachers ready to begin, but we are still waiting for sponsors for them.   
As we expand, we desire to expand the DCI Board, as well.  We are looking for people of vision, energy, and who want to connect us to resources to serve more people with our ministry.  If you’d like to be more involved, please reach out to us – it’s really not a major time commitment, and board meetings can even be joined by phone or Skype.

A DCI TEACHER CATCHES OUR VISION
Bernah Namutosi was frustrated with some of her students.  As a brand new DCI literacy teacher, experienced in teaching but not yet fully trained in adult education, she wasn’t prepared for the students who had never before entered a classroom of any type.  These women could not recognize the letters of the alphabet or even count.  As much as they needed help, these adults seemed to her to be slowing down the faster students in class and taking up entirely too much of her time.  Bernah didn’t yet realize that even her slowest learners could actually transform with a just little extra help from her.  
Then we got her to realize that these people, the ones who seemed to have the least potential, are the very reason DCI is here, teaching adult literacy to those who never had a chance before. The poorest of the poor, the powerless, the ones who can’t seem to get ahead and really develop their lives and their families, these are the ones who need us the most.  When Berhah realized their real importance, she brought them up to the front row of the class. She helped them write lessons in their notebooks, taking a little extra time before other students arrived to help them with the basics.  After only a few weeks these weakest students began to show a big change.   
         
Now those very students are copying their notes on their own, writing their own names on their papers, and are catching up with the rest of the class.  Bernah herself is gaining confidence and becoming a better teacher, and owning her own vision for why she is part of DCI.   
 
DCI’s literacy teachers, including Bernah, are recruited from the regions where they live and work.  These are people that want to help their own community members to learn for themselves, to make big changes in their life habits, and to expand their vision to be able to develop and grow.  We also find that they are able to relate to their students in ways no outsider ever could.  That’s why sometimes they are called “Facilitators”, but we increasingly think of them as, “Community Change Agents.”    

Bernah meets with two of her new stars
CHECK OUT OUR WEBSITE!
Did you know that you can find all our past newsletters under the News & Media tab on our website? Plus you can browse through our new site to find out all about DCI and our team, and even how you can participate! The address is www.dcius.org
Can you help?

Please share this newsletter with your friends!
There is still time in 2019 to make a tax deductible contribution. DCI currently operates 10 classes in nine regions of Northern Uganda.  To date we have taught more than a thousand women (and a few hundred men) how to read, and how to maintain a safe and healthy home, as well as to be useful citizens and to create businesses of their own.  Many of these women have gone on to become community leaders and even elected officials.  But there are hundreds more waiting for these same opportunities.  Nine more classes are ready to go, as soon as they are sponsored. And many more places are asking to be considered. Your tax deductible contributions can empower the next generation as we work toward a time when programs like DCI won’t be necessary.

Development Companions International
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