"Teaching the Basics..."

Crew members Becca Taylor and Ellen DePagter were roommates on the Africa Mercy , in West Africa . During the Togo Field Service, Ellen was working and teaching on shore at the Hospitality Center, where patients stay before and after their surgeries – to gain strength before surgery, to recover from surgery, or to undergo post-operative treatment.
One day, Ellen heard that English classes, which were being held at a local church, had been discontinued. The classes had been very popular with the Togolese people.

So, Ellen and Becca decided to help. They organized a one-hour class in which Ellen taught English and the alphabet every Saturday morning to thirty enthusiastic women. Then Becca taught a one-hour class on handwashing, wound care, treatment for diarrhea and other basic health care techniques.

To extend the impact of the program, Ellen trained a Togolese woman, who took over the project when Ellen left the ship. This new leader is very serious about her job. She assigned homework and even had a final exam.

In addition, every other Tuesday, Becca taught specific health care basics to seven women and a pastor. Their homework was to find another place to teach these lessons in the community. “It's been so much fun,” said Becca.

Becca and Ellen made the lessons reproducible, so the project could continue after the Field Service ended. They used a minimum of supplies and no technology. “Just simple, easy-to-find things that they had, resources they could continue to use,” said Becca. “It's working!”

The women are excited about the lessons and want to continue teaching them. One woman is even preparing to expand the program by identifying other topics of interest.
Story by Elaine B. Winn


Edited by Nancy Predaina