The team arrives in Malawi Tuesday August 4th and the first thing that impresses us is the new pre-school program.The Ancient Path Early Learning Academy launched June 1 but is already running as efficiently as any pre-school program we have seen anywhere. No exaggeration.
Certified teachers Tusekile and Chinsisi were chosen from a pool of twelve candidates after an intensive interview process. Ancient Path Malawi Director, Moses Mtambo and Administrative Director, Blessings Mtambo enlisted the services of a professional from the board of education (who also serves on their AP board) to select the right teachers. In our opinion they could not have chosen better. 
We find the school well-organized and the students well-cared for in every way. Both teachers speak perfect English which is important since it is a large part of the curriculum. Alphabet charts, maps, and colorful posters brought over from the states adorn the walls in every room. But there are also hand-drawn pictures, charts and illustrations made by the teachers for their daily lesson plans.
We watch in amazement as these little ones walk to the chalk board one at a time to write the letter of the day. Today it is the letter D. Tusekile does not only call students who already know how to write their letters just to impress visitors at the back of the room. In fact, it’s as if we’re not even there. She is entirely focused on her class plan. When a child hesitates, she kindly shows him again and again until he succeeds and then the whole class sings encouragement. Soon, teacher Chinsisi takes the next module and the children begin to count.
The summer school session has just begun with twelve young students, ages 3-5. We have toted trunks full of school supplies that the teachers have already begun to use. The team from Minnesota brought colorful school smocks and name-tags for each student, lovingly hand-crafted by the amazing women from the Log Church in Crosslake. With her background in elementary education, Cindy Cressman will spend time with the teachers discussing the new supplies and creative ideas for lesson plans. But she points out that these teachers are already so skilled and passionate about their profession, extensive training sessions are unnecessary. Dixie Hiniker proposes an idea to have a local tailor make dress-up costumes for the children to role play different professions – doctor, nurse, driver, tailor, accountant. Tusekili and Chinsisi immediately rise to the idea remarking – This is wonderful because it will help them dream. When they go home maybe they will say “mama, I want to be a doctor!” And that is exactly what we hope for each one of the children who walk through these doors – to learn to dream.
