“She Was There Too” – Ellen Waungana

Literacy Teacher and Editor

Ellen Waungana is one of the more recently appointed staff teachers. As well as teaching literacy classes in Highfield township, Ellen has a special talent for writing the follow-on literature put out by ALOR. These range from how to avoid bilharzia to recipes for green mealie bread, from saving money to the responsibility of both parents in bringing up their children. She also helped with the editing of the Organization ‘s newspaper “Kiyi,” which at present is graded in five stages for new literates to read. When Ellen first presented issue No.(1) to her students they joked at the idea of being able to read the articles as well as to understand the cartoon, but when they found that in a little while they could read the knitting pattern, they delightedly produced three cents to buy their own newspaper; now it is often chosen for the “test piece” before they are awarded certificates as new literates. An Ndebele version with six tabloid style readers, has also been printed.

Published by The National Federation of Business and Professional Women of Rhodesia to commemorate International Woman’s Year 1975 in association with Sarum Imprint (Pvt) Ltd, P. O. Box 374, Salisbury. (C) Copyright National Federation of Business and Professional Women of Rhodesia on behalf of contributors. Copyright 1976.