As darkness falls, the schoolroom is transformed by the happy voices of women arriving wearing beautiful colourful clothing and wide smiles.
Soon the hubbub smooths into peace as every one of the women who are refugees from Sudan concentrates on the serious task of learning English.
It is the most receptive and diligent class I have ever had the privilege to teach, but there are other distinctive features. Sometimes a baby joins us and I enjoy a cuddle to allow the mother to write more easily. The class has a wonderful sense of humour and the concentration is often broken by ripples of laughter.
When I request a volunteer, I am always spoilt for choice. The deep sense of mutual support means that no one is afraid to make a mistake.
I began to wonder what it is that motivates 29 women to commit 3 nights a week to serious learning.
At first they were shy to answer my probing, but as trust deepened, some of the women began to share the stories that motivated them to make the hot and dusty journey overland in crowded buses for several days to Cairo. Most have left loved ones in Sudan and yearn to see them.
One woman explained that she wants to give her children the chances in life which she didn’t enjoy and so wants to help them with their English studies. This seems to be common to the whole class. Another wants to take a leadership role for women and realises that English is vital to communicate with other leaders. The women all love to make new friends, including with people who speak English. Some need English in order to realise their dream to move to other countries.
When it’s time to leave each evening, we celebrate our oneness in Christ by singing a worship song together. The African voices drown mine as the rhythm becomes more upbeat.
We are all sad when it’s time to go home. For me the pain of parting is more poignant because I will soon be returning to England.
If you are a fluent English speaker, please consider investing a month or more in the English education of my delightful friends. Like me, you will find that the reward wildly outweighs the investment.
Hopefully, I will return to North Africa before long and discover that these women have made amazing progress in English as well as made some new teacher friends (with you!).
Barbara, UK