TeachBeyond Zambia Grows Stronger Together at Team Retreat

An excellent teacher can transform an empty chicken coop into a parent’s preferred educational setting.

TeachBeyond Zambia celebrated its gifted educators at the first ever team retreat, which took place from January 16 to 18 in Livingstone, the country’s tourist capital. Eight members from Zambia and one from TeachBeyond Uganda, who flew in to discuss sustainability strategies, spent the weekend in fellowship, sharing stories and planning for the future. The theme of the retreat was “Building and Strengthening Relationships through Acts of Service.”

“Each member played their part,” explained TeachBeyond Zambia Director Abinala Mbewe, “whether it was sharing a devotion, presentation, preparing breakfast, washing dishes; each served with love, humility and excellence.”

The group participated in team-building games, worship, the sharing of testimonies, a trip to Victoria Falls and a “Meet the Board” session where they connected with board members online. They also used their time together to develop a strategic plan for 2026, which builds upon the transformational work already taking place across the country.

Abinala shares three testimonies of transformation:

A parent in Livingstone’s Libuyu compound has chosen to keep her child at Jessy Chitenta’s Learning Centre, despite the offering of tuition-free formal education at a government school. Jessy's Learning Centre is an informal education program with Open Schools Worldwide. Students learn from a chicken coop, and yet this parent, like many others, chooses to keep her child in that learning environment because of the improvement she has seen in her child's academics and social behavior.

Jessy started out as an Open Schools Worldwide volunteer tutor over 8 years ago and went on to become a TeachBeyond member as a Sparrow Project facilitator. She now trains teachers in under-resourced Christian schools in Transformational Education.

Another teacher, Eric Syamuyoba, who graduated from the Sparrow Project teacher training, is now working in a private school and is being sponsored by the same school for formal teacher training. Eric had approached the private school, offering to teach and showcase his teaching skills. Within a month, the school authorities decided that they needed him and offered to sponsor him for further training.

Sparrow Project Facilitator Norah Daka teaches at a primary school in Misisi compound. She works alongside her son Paul, who teaches a preschool class. This mother and son have grown deeply passionate about the learning experience of the children in their care.

“These and many other teachers who have experienced transformation through their training and in service to others, have developed the art of creating an excellent learning environment, building character and promoting maximum learning in the classroom,” Abinala said.

God is doing great things through TeachBeyond Zambia. The team retreat was an opportunity to honor the work already being done and develop a united vision for the future.