Diane has been the early childhood development co-ordinator with Church of Central Africa Presbyterian (CCAP) Synod of Zambia, since May 2016 and her responsibilities include co-ordinating training activities in early childhood development for primary and community schools and church early childhood development centres.

Diane assists early childhood development teachers to use the Zambian Early Childhood Syllabus using a play based approach to learning, mainly with locally available materials (rubbish). She trains teachers during school holidays (three times a year), and visits them in the classroom during terms to guide and mentor them, and introduce new activities to the children. Diane trains church leaders and committees to help them in their understanding of early childhood development. Diane has assisted the Synod in producing a child safeguarding policy, a social media policy and various other policy documents. She is also providing guidelines for Presbyteries, congregations, parents and guardians about early childhood development and how young children learn.

“There are many challenges in my work as generally in Zambia, play is not considered as valuable for children to do,” says Diane. “I spend much time helping teachers, parents and pastors to understand that young children do not need or want to sit at desks, but would rather be investigating and experimenting with the materials provided for them in the classroom. My job also gives me a lot of satisfaction - when I see a teacher having a 'lightbulb' moment and suddenly everything becomes clear, or when I see a child in awe at something they have managed to do for the first time! I feel blessed to have the opportunity to be part of the lives of these teachers and children and watch them grow and develop.”

Diane's home congregation is Bushvale Presbyterian Church in Route Presbytery. Her overseas service began in Malawi in 1995 where she taught in the women's ministry programme in Zomba Theological College and was director of the pre-school and creche. In 2004 she studied Montessori early childhood development in Johannesburg and in 2006, Diane moved to Mzuzu to become the early childhood development co-ordinator for CCAP Synod of Livingstonia, where she set up a community-based early childhood programme. She was also a national early childhood development trainer for the government of Malawi. Diane moved to Zambia in 2016 to set up an early childhood development programme for CCAP Synod of Zambia.
 

During the Covid-19 pandemic, Diane has continued to serve in Zambia and has adapted her work and witness to comply with local restrictions.

Prayer Points

• Pray for the teachers in the early childhood development centres, community schools and primary schools, that they will grasp the notion that play is actually a learning tool for children.
• Pray for Diane as she works with the CCAP Synod of Zambia leadership in developing documents which will not only assist in early childhood development, but also in the wider church.
• Pray for safe travel for Diane as Zambia is a vast country, and training and visiting schools involves a lot of driving.
• Pray too for Diane's daily walk with Christ.

Diane has recorded a short and long film clips which can be downloaded and used in church services, prayer meetings or events to raise awareness and prayer for what God is doing across the world, as we seek to go deep and wide in global mission involvement.
 

Digital Dispatches // Cusick // Autumn 2023 from Presbyterian Church in Ireland on Vimeo.

(For previous Digital Dispatches video clips click here)

Latest Report

Thank you for your continued support.  Keep updated with my life and work by checking my blog: www.dianecusick.blogspot.com 

To download a printable PDF of this bulletin or for a previous bulletin visit the Mission Reports listing at the top or the Global Mission monthly bulletin archive.