Thabile Zondo

Oregon Writing Project at EOU hosts

teacher from South Africa

Contact: Laura Hancock / lhancock@eou.edu
Source: Nancy Knowles / Director, Oregon Writing Project at EOU

La Grande, Oregon - The Oregon Writing Project at Eastern Oregon University will host South African teacher Thabile Zondo as part of the Invitational Summer Writing Institute June 14 through July 8. A reception for Zondo will be held Tuesday, July 5 from 2:30 to 3:30 p.m. in the Hoke Main Lounge on campus. All are welcome to attend and refreshments will be served.

Zondo teaches history and geography at Thalana High School in Dundee, KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa. She is also the department head and will return to share knowledge gleaned during the summer to 350 teachers from five school districts in her region. Zondo’s presence in La Grande is part of an exchange program between South African teachers and teachers involved in the National Writing Project nation wide. This international exchange program is designed to broaden teachers’ understanding of the world and enhance student learning.

Zondo’s visit is made possible by funding from the Oregon Writing Project and generous donations of time, housing, meals, and transportation made by community members. During her stay, Zondo will also be collecting clothing and school materials such as paper and pencils to be sent to Dundee to support the needy. Those interested in making donations should contact Nancy Knowles at (541) 962-3795.

The Oregon Writing Project, affiliated with the federally funded National Writing Project, provides professional development related to literacy for teachers in eastern and central Oregon through summer institutes, in-service, and continuity programs. The OWP Student Writers’ Workshop, a one-day young writers’ conference, occurs every March. For more information about the OWP, please visit http://www.eou.edu/owp.