Trip Leaders and Participants (L to R): Breanna Jefferson '09, Science Teacher Melinda Mueller,
Math Teacher Don Zwiers, Birdland Principal Olive Mumba, Head of School Joe Puggelli,
English Teacher Sonja Nielsen, and Technology Coordinator Nick Lew
January 22 - The Zambia Program involves Middle and Upper School students in a variety of service-oriented projects and events. These include a three-week trip each summer to Lusaka, Zambia where Upper School students visit Munali High Schools, Birdland School, and a school for the deaf, providing donated laptops as well as network and computer training. The students also visit area clinics and hospitals, bringing shoes, mattresses, mosquito nets, and other much needed supplies. Middle School students raise money for the soon-to-be-completed Birdland library through bake sales and are assembling an impressive book collection to be used in the completed library. They have also gathered quite a book selection for when the library is complete. Finally, SAAS students write to pen pals in the schools listed above and often meet their pen pals as trip participants.
The Zambia program was recently recognized with the Building Our Future Award. This award is presented to partnerships with individuals and organizations that benefit both the SAAS community and our partners. Olive Mumba, principal of the Birdland School, was invited by SAAS to visit and receive the award. Below is one student’s account of Olive’s visit.
Olive Mumba’s Visit to SAAS
Jackson Gode ‘14
Jackson Gode ‘14
Arriving at SeaTac Airport on Sunday, October 25, Olive Mumba began her three week stay at SAAS. As an 8th grader I got to know her very well since she spent time in three classes of mine. On Tuesday, October 27, Olive spent the day in Robin Gage’s World Geography class. This was great since the class had just started a unit on culture. Olive described the respect given to the elders of Zambia, elaborating on the idea of a chicken. “If the family had a chicken for dinner, the children would not dare to go first in getting their food. If it came their turn to eat, and the drumstick was still attached, they would never take it.” On Thursday, November 5, Olive talked to Miranda Roth’s Human Biology class. After speaking about how most Zambian hospitals have patients on the beds, floors, and in the halls SAAS students decided to help raise money for a hospital after the library is finished. The final time that Olive visited an eighth grade class was the very next day, when she talked to Sonja Neilsen’s English students about how she could relate to the book they were reading called We Are All The Same.
The same day that Olive visited English class, the Middle School Zambia Club held their fourth Bake Sale of the year. Seeing the entire event happen was great for Olive so she could experience the work that was being done to raise money for the library at Birdland. The sale raised over $500. Another Middle School Zambia Club event that Olive participated in was the Zambia Club Luncheon. Sonja’s room was packed with students, teachers, and even a Seattle Times Reporter. Olive was so grateful for the four course meal that club members cooked and prepared for her. The defining moment of the luncheon was when Sarah Hughes `14 presented Olive with a box of Fran’s chocolates and a necklace. Olive said, “Please let me thank you the Zambian way,” and she got down on one knee, clapped, and accepted the gift.
