Melissa Mano – Kalaheo High School – South Africa 2010

I was ready to quit teaching math at Kalaheo High School five years ago, but then I went to South Africa with Teachers Without Borders (TWB) and it completely changed my perspective. I was never more proud to be a teacher than when I was in South Africa. In 2009-10, I had a difficult school year and a friend of mine told me that I should consider going to South Africa again. She said when I got back in 2005, it was the happiest she had ever seen me. So I did.

For most people, South Africa 2010 means the World Cup of Soccer. For me, South Africa 2010 started with a conflict between the public teacher’s union and the South African government that threatened our workshops. As the only public school teacher, coming off a school year of 17 furlough days established by our Hawaii governor, I felt right at home in South Africa. I felt the teachers’ frustration of wanting to teach children, but not feeling the support of leaders. However, the difference is that in South Africa, the teachers came to our workshops on their own time, during the holidays, and their own dime. Their determination to be better teachers is humbling.

During week one in Mthatha, we ventured into new territory by working with the subject advisors. Subject advisors oversee all math and science teachers and they are completely overwhelmed. My first question on day one was to find out how many different schools each subject advisor is in charge of. The first person responded “ 235! “. I thought they misunderstood and said, “No, not how many teachers, but how many schools? ” They heard right – it ranged from 93 to 451 schools! Unbelievable !

I was completely intimidated at the thought of working with the subject advisors. These are all former teachers who now evaluate teachers and run teacher workshops. Their math skills are top notch and I wasn’t sure how I could help. I soon realized that I could first help by doing something that public school teachers in Hawaii feel as well,…. no one listens to them. We shared so much – The entire week was filled with such passion. I have never been in a room of people that not only take their responsibility to teach children seriously, but who have enough passion to devote their life and energy to education.

The next two weeks we were blessed to work with the subject advisors and assist them in leading their own workshops with their schools. It was fun to see the TWB members team up with the subject advisor and create such an awesome team. It was heartwarming to see more women math teachers since I was last here in 2005. Kwesi would continually refer to the attending teachers as “colleagues”. This became a word that I grew to respect and greatly appreciate. I thought about my own administrators, and how they rarely make me feel like a “colleague”.

Coming back home to Hawaii, I continually think of my many experiences in South Africa. I keep my picture slide show on my laptop so that I remember my South African teacher family fondly and often. In Hawaii we cherish our aloha spirit. Half way around the world this spirit of love exists in the South African people as well. The difference is that the South African spirit is prevalent in much hardship and in schools where they go without supplies, support, and in many cases, electricity. This South African “aloha spirit” is one that I hope to carry with me every day and share with those I come into contact with.

I want to thank FAWCO – The Federation of American Women’s Clubs Overseas – for sponsoring my trip to South Africa, and the many friends in Hawaii and South Africa who make this project happen every year.