By Vincent Gunde
A local Non- Governmental Organization ( NGO)- Join for Joy has partnered with Dowa DAPP Teachers Training College to pilot a 12 week course on playful learning with plans to expand to public colleges.
Join for Joy works in rural areas in Zambia, Kenya, Uganda, and Malawi, it is expanding its reach by working in more districts in these countries over the coming years.
In Malawi, Join for Joy started implementing its interventions in Mchinji in 2019, in 2026 it will be in 12 primary schools in Dowa and in 2027, it will be in Lilongwe Rural.
Presenting the program to the District executive committee ( Dec) in Dowa, the organization’s Executive Director James Phiri, said the program trains primary school teachers to openly discuss health and social issues through sports and playful learning methodologies, in order to create engaging, safe, inclusive and joyful educational environments.
Phiri said the program works with a vision of ensuring that every child at primary school in sub- saharan Africa, has the opportunity to experience the transformative power of playful learning.
He said the program is targeting learners in rural primary schools from Standard one to eight saying the Join for Joy teachers training program is for three years.
The Director said Join for Joy teachers undergo three years of intensive training in theory and practicals saying each school is given a game box and game manuals with 60+ interactive games aligned with different educational themes.
He said after three years, schools are supported to operate independently and sustainably saying Join for Joy coordinators remain available as a point of contact to provide guidance and technical support whenever needed.
The Director said the program operates in a district for a maximum of five years or more depending on contextual factors and program needs.
He.said Join for Joy compliment existing strategies within the primary education system by strengthening teachers’ skills through training in sports for development and playful learning methodologies, promoting menstrual health education, Physical Education and Expressive Arts through the provision of essential materials to schools.
” We provide materials in primary schools such as soccer balls, soft balls, Drums, whistles, Cones, Ribbons, Shakers, ball pump, skipping ropes, volleyball, and Mangolongondo,” said Phiri.
He said Join for Joy Malawi has trained 430 teachers, reaching out to 46,000 children, 72 schools included, and 15,00+ menstrual cups.
In his remarks, Dowa District Council’s Director of Education, Youth and Sports Christopher Kumikundi, said the Council is expecting cordial relationship with all the development partners urging them to work hand in hand with Join for Joy by providing all the necessary support so that the implementation of their program is successful in the district.
Join for Joy training programs for playful learning in primary schools is being funded by the Netherlands headquarters with support from family foundation – the Contribute Foundation, Lowenberg
