I submitted a proposal to return to the Congo this summer to work in the camp - wish me luck! Here is the proposal:
Proposal
High School Initiative
Mole Camp
July 2016
Submitted by
Michael Morsches
English Language Specialist
April 27, 2016
Rationale:
Last summer, May
through July, I worked in the Mole camp through a combined project with the US
State Department and the UNHCR. My project was to help establish English
programs in the camp. In the process of doing so, we recognized a dramatic need
for a secondary curriculum. At this point, the camp has not had a functioning
secondary curriculum for many years. While working there last year, I identified
a significant group of refugee teachers who, with a degree of support, could
create and sustain an effective secondary school. With their assistance, we
created a primary school English program, a teaching academy, and a girls’
empowerment initiative. I believe the project is viable, as we implemented a
Conflict Resolution curriculum last summer for adults and the turnout was very
promising. The last component of a comprehensive educational system will be the
establishment of a secondary school curriculum – they have the personnel who
can teach and lead the program with minimum external support. Finally, the ongoing
programs developed in the camp last summer offer great encouragement for the
continued viability of educational programming in the camp.
Proposed Program:
An English Language
Specialist (Michael Morsches) and a Math/Science Specialist (Patrick Lohan)
would travel to the Mole camp, preferably in July, 2016, for a three week
program. The initiative would have two components: 1) The refugee teachers
would have basic pedagogical training that would focus on lesson planning,
instruction, and assessment, and 2) The refugee teachers would receive
content-specific training in World History, Algebra, Introductory Calculus,
Biology, and Chemistry. The two training components will be in the form of
active workshops with the refugee teachers practicing their skills with actual
students. Finally, the refugee teachers will have ongoing access to the two
specialists (and other US teachers) after the summer program, as this is one
piece of the project commitment from several of our host schools, including Moraine
Valley Community College.
Host Schools:
The following schools
are committed to supporting this project with in-kind contributions:
Moraine Valley
Community College – Chicago, Illinois
Sul Ross University –
Alpine, Texas
The University of Akron
– Akron, Ohio
Garrett High School –
Garrett, Indiana
In-Kind Contributions:
The following are in-kind
contributions we will bring to the project:
1)
Five textbook sets (Five textbooks each set) for
World History, Algebra, Introductory Calculus, Biology, and Chemistry to be
shipped in May.
2)
Classroom supplies such as paper, notebooks,
pens, pencils, and classroom posters to be shipped in May.
3)
A few microscopes and assorted slides to be
shipped in May.
4)
Release time (three weeks) for the Dean of
Learning Enrichment and College Readiness (Michael Morsches) and Lead Tutor
(Patrick Lohan)
5)
Ongoing teacher support in lesson planning,
instruction, assessment, and subject-matter content.
6)
Ongoing English resources for all programs in
the camp.
Proposed Timeframe:
The timeframe for the
project would be from Mid-May through the end of July, 2016:
Mid-May – Ship
resources to the DRC (possibly through diplomatic pouch) so that they are on
site by July 1, 2016
July 2 through July 24
– Program at Mole (including two days at each end of the project in Kinshasa).
August 2016 and onward
– Teacher support from Host Schools
Requested Resources:
We would request the
following resources from the grant:
1)
Assistance in shipping the project books and
resources from Washington to the DRC, preferably through diplomatic pouch.
2)
Hotel accommodations for two in Kinshasa for
four days.
3)
Per diem for two for 25 days.
4)
Stipend for two at $250 per day for 25 days.
5)
Transport for two, to and from Zongo.
6)
Hotel accommodations for two for 21 days in
Zongo.
7)
Daily transport for two to and from Mole from
Zongo.
8)
Travel incidentals (e.g., vaccinations, travel
insurance, medication)
Estimated Budget:
The following are estimated
costs (excluding our in-kind contributions)
1)
Airfare to the DRC - $4,000
2)
Hotel accommodation Kinshasa (one shared room,
four days) - $1,000
3)
Per diem - $2,500
4)
Stipend - $12,500
5)
Travel to Zongo – unknown
6)
Zongo hotel accommodations – unknown, perhaps
provided by the UNHCR
7)
Transport to and from Mole – unknown, perhaps
provided by the UNHCR
8)
Shipping from Washington D.C. – unknown
9)
Travel incidentals - $750
Total Estimated Costs -
$20,750
Total Estimated In-Kind
Contributions - $3000
Summary:
The project I
participated in last summer was very successful, and is currently flourishing. I
observed then, the desperate need for an active secondary school program for
the older students in the camp (see attached white paper submitted by Bryce
Smedley and Michael Morsches). The internal structures of the camp and the
existing personnel are the strongest components of this proposal. I have full
support of the camp committee and the refugee teachers for this project, as
well as dedicated support from several American schools. My school, Moraine
Valley Community College, has pledged its continued ongoing support to the
programs in the camp. I believe that this project will be the beginning of a
long and healthy collaboration between the camp and our US host schools.
Attachments:
1)
White Paper – Expanding ECA – State Department
English Language Programs to Refugee Camps
2)
Final Report – Summer 2016 programs
3)
Vita – Michael Morsches, English Language
Specialist
4)
Resume – Patrick Lohan, Math/Science Specialist
