On The Ground July/Aug ‘25
Club of Leaders (CoL)
Over the past few months, the CoL faced interruptions due to local gang violence caused by the Kulunas. Once activities were able to resume, facilitators quickly re-engaged students, focusing on leadership, peer influence, and community problem-solving. Using the station methodology, students were grouped by age for guided discussions. In these smaller interactive groups, students shared their fears and sadness about the violence, while also offering practical solutions such as increased police presence, peer advising, and community outreach. Facilitators continue to be impressed by the students’ insight and maturity. These sessions have clearly shown how students are building leadership and teamwork skills by addressing real-world issues and using their voices to promote safety and positive change in their communities.
Looking ahead to the upcoming school year, the CoL aims to further strengthen student engagement and deepen their commitment to community outreach. Teachers and facilitators have praised the introduction of new methodologies, particularly the use of stations, for effectively increasing student participation, especially among younger learners. Building on the momentum from this past year, CoL students will be encouraged to take on greater leadership roles by designing and leading initiatives that address key community issues such as clean water, waste management, nutrition, and positive peer behavior. Mr Dany shared his goal, “This new year, I will develop all the strategies learned to put my students at the center of their learning, capitalizing on mistakes or challenges from the past as subjects for reflection for improvement in the future. (I will) Make the effort to use many strategies to restore confidence in my students to actively participate in activities.”
Ecole Valeurs de Christ (EVC): Potential Partner School
Malembe Rise continued strengthening its partnership with EVC by hosting a session focused on building trust and introducing key themes of the CoL model. Through interactive discussions, EVC staff reflected on how beliefs influence behavior, identified community assets, and practiced teamwork through hands-on activities. Mr. Johnathan shared, “I liked everything you taught because it touches all of life. It concerns all of life.” As the school year begins, both schools plan to collaborate further,involving more staff and students, with the goal of establishing a CoL at EVC.
