QAE/Dwankhozi School Partnership
Frequently Asked Questions
1. Why does QAE have a partner school in Zambia?
One of the five pillars of Queen Anne Elementary is to raise “concerned, confident, and compassionate citizens of the world”, and this partnership encompasses that. Rather than confining our children’s knowledge of the world to what they can read in books or on the Internet, this partnership allows each and every one of QAE’s children to directly connect with students from across the globe.
2. How will this partnership impact my child?
Rather than approaching this as a charity cause, we see this as a true partnership in every sense of the word. Our children stand to gain emotionally, relationally, and intellectually from this unique relationship. By building and embracing relationships with students at Dwankhozi Primary School, our children have been able and will continue to see that despite potential cultural, racial, and socio-economic differences, the students of Dwankhozi share far more similarities than differences (a vital realization and step to becoming a global citizen).
3. What is Dwankhozi Week?
Dwankhozi week is a time for your child to focus in on and experience first hand exactly what this relationship means to them. Often there is a school-wide project that goes along with Dwankhozi Week that not only connects us with Dwankhozi, but also our children with each other. Dwankhozi Week is a time where our kids can come together to ask questions of themselves, the staff at QAE, members of the Dwankhozi Hope Organization, and even directly to the members of the Partner school in Zambia.
4. When is Dwankhozi Week?
The timing of Dwankhozi Week changes from year to year. This year, Dwankhozi Week will coincide with a visit from one of the teachers from Dwankhozi Primary School.
5. Will QAE teachers visit Dwankhozi Primary School every year?
The decision to travel to Zambia will be assessed each year. While the trips thus far have been incredibly impactful, we want to ensure that we are taking whatever steps are necessary to give our school and its students the largest benefit while keeping expenses in mind. It is our hope that we can continue to bring teachers from Dwankhozi over to Seattle in order to give our students a chance to interact with them in person, bringing the relationship full circle.
6. How is it determined which teachers will take the trip to Zambia?
Teacher interest has been the driving force in deciding which teachers take the trip to Zambia.
7. Who funds the teachers’ trips to Zambia?
The teachers’ trips are funded through three different pieces: 1. Each teacher is expected to fund a portion of his or her trip. 2. Dwankhozi Hope contributes funds for in country transportation & gas, lunches at the school, etc. 3. The rest of the money is raised through fundraisers both individual and school-wide.
8. Are PTSA funds used to support the Partner school relationship?
No PTSA funds are used to send teachers to Zambia or supplies to Dwankhozi Primary School. All funds invested in this partnership are raised through specific fundraisers and direct donations.
9. When will students be able to travel to Dwankhozi Primary School?
At this time, there are no plans to take students. Despite the physical distance between our schools, modern technology allows us many different avenues to connect students to community members at Dwankhozi.
10. How can I get involved?
This is the easy part! If you would like to get involved just contact your student’s teacher, David Elliott, or send an email to info@dwankhozi-hope.org for more information.
Frequently Asked Questions
1. Why does QAE have a partner school in Zambia?
One of the five pillars of Queen Anne Elementary is to raise “concerned, confident, and compassionate citizens of the world”, and this partnership encompasses that. Rather than confining our children’s knowledge of the world to what they can read in books or on the Internet, this partnership allows each and every one of QAE’s children to directly connect with students from across the globe.
2. How will this partnership impact my child?
Rather than approaching this as a charity cause, we see this as a true partnership in every sense of the word. Our children stand to gain emotionally, relationally, and intellectually from this unique relationship. By building and embracing relationships with students at Dwankhozi Primary School, our children have been able and will continue to see that despite potential cultural, racial, and socio-economic differences, the students of Dwankhozi share far more similarities than differences (a vital realization and step to becoming a global citizen).
3. What is Dwankhozi Week?
Dwankhozi week is a time for your child to focus in on and experience first hand exactly what this relationship means to them. Often there is a school-wide project that goes along with Dwankhozi Week that not only connects us with Dwankhozi, but also our children with each other. Dwankhozi Week is a time where our kids can come together to ask questions of themselves, the staff at QAE, members of the Dwankhozi Hope Organization, and even directly to the members of the Partner school in Zambia.
4. When is Dwankhozi Week?
The timing of Dwankhozi Week changes from year to year. This year, Dwankhozi Week will coincide with a visit from one of the teachers from Dwankhozi Primary School.
5. Will QAE teachers visit Dwankhozi Primary School every year?
The decision to travel to Zambia will be assessed each year. While the trips thus far have been incredibly impactful, we want to ensure that we are taking whatever steps are necessary to give our school and its students the largest benefit while keeping expenses in mind. It is our hope that we can continue to bring teachers from Dwankhozi over to Seattle in order to give our students a chance to interact with them in person, bringing the relationship full circle.
6. How is it determined which teachers will take the trip to Zambia?
Teacher interest has been the driving force in deciding which teachers take the trip to Zambia.
7. Who funds the teachers’ trips to Zambia?
The teachers’ trips are funded through three different pieces: 1. Each teacher is expected to fund a portion of his or her trip. 2. Dwankhozi Hope contributes funds for in country transportation & gas, lunches at the school, etc. 3. The rest of the money is raised through fundraisers both individual and school-wide.
8. Are PTSA funds used to support the Partner school relationship?
No PTSA funds are used to send teachers to Zambia or supplies to Dwankhozi Primary School. All funds invested in this partnership are raised through specific fundraisers and direct donations.
9. When will students be able to travel to Dwankhozi Primary School?
At this time, there are no plans to take students. Despite the physical distance between our schools, modern technology allows us many different avenues to connect students to community members at Dwankhozi.
10. How can I get involved?
This is the easy part! If you would like to get involved just contact your student’s teacher, David Elliott, or send an email to info@dwankhozi-hope.org for more information.
