The New Sudan Vision has posted an interesting story about the Language Center for Newcomers (LCFN) in Alberta, Canada and the man who founded it, Michael Nuul Mayena. The LCFN is said to use an insider and peer-based approach to instruction:

…encourages immigrants from every nationality to come and learn the English language without abandoning their native languages. It is why the center also has a literacy program called ‘immigrants educating immigrants’, basically allowing knowledgeable individuals to teach classes to children and adult in their own languages. For example, Dinka language is taught at the center.

The New Sudan Vision story also gives a nice example of why risk and security issues are not always linear.

Michael exhibited charisma and leadership qualities early on. Born to Dinka parents in Baping, a village on the outskirt of Wang’ulei Payam in Twic East County, Jonglei State, South Sudan, Michael enjoyed good yet brief upbringing. He benefited from exceptional parenting, from caring and loving parents to a community that provided cultural values that nurtured him —something that definitely played a key role in how he faced life in the crucible of Africa’s longest civil war.

His first job and passion was in herding family cattle before war intervened and cut that short. While in refugee camp in Ethiopia those great leadership qualities became handy as he took care of younger children.

“I think the tough situation inspired me. When I was a child living in the bush without guardians that taught me and now it is my personal responsibility to help children to realize their own potential. We have missed many things during our childhoods in Sudan, because of the civil wars and I don’t want to see the children growing up with the similar situation that I passed through during those days,” he said.