Teachers and Learners (Observers)

by Darl Snyder (SPC WWM Team Lead for Burkina Faso Ministry)

Today's Atlanta Journal Constitution has a section titled EDUCATION MATTERS, page A-11.

After glancing through most of Section A, I went back to page A-11 to read EDUCATION MATTERS. Subsequently, I thought how often I am asked the question, "What did you teach at the University?" Until this moment, my answer has been that I did not teach. Now my answer will be very different.

One is always teaching and always learning regardless of the circumstance. I find myself being on the alert to what others are doing and/or saying with the hope that I will learn something from them.
It is never too late to be a teacher/learner -- even at age 87 there is still some hope for the likes of me.

Most of you have met or have heard me speak often of Dr. Salibo Some' our young friend who is doing such remarkable things with his people in Burkina Faso, West Africa. In each of the EDUCATION MATTERS letters I saw Salibo wielding his magic as he does day-in-and-day-out with some of the more than 3000 farmers, and many others, he serves. I see his magic at work with the children in the school he brought into reality where no school had ever existed. Again, I see his magic at work with the women in their groups as they learn new ways of making money through micro-enterprises where none had existed. Truly, Salibo is a master at teaching .

And, while he is teaching he, also, is learning, turning new thoughts in his mind, thoughts that could well make a huge difference to these people who have so little. While Salibo is teaching and learning, I, too, will be doing the same as I have for these many years. It is humbling to give thought to the numbers of people, in so many parts of the world, whose lives I have touched and who in turn have so richly touched my life. I am thankful to be so privileged to be a role model functioning as a teacher and as a learner.

Darl

You can download a presentation about all that ASUDEC and Dr. Some's work here:

http://bit.ly/n9aSr

Here are some excerpts: