FENZA Faith and Encounter Centre Zambia

A Catholic Resource Centre on Faiths and Cultures in Zambia

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The above drawing ("Nankoko na bana" - meaning "the hen with her children") is used in girls' initiation rites (Bemba). Hens are known in Zambia for their willingness to hetch eggs of all sorts. A hen may hedge an egg of a duck and take it as her own.

The traditional teaching of this drawing encourages openness: Openness to take in orphans and raise them up as family members. Openness to extend one's family. This openness easily extends to newcomers to Zambia.

Learning a Zambian language takes time and patience. Like a hen hedging eggs. It takes closeness to people. Language is the door to people's hearts.

Zambian languages go beyond words, but form a way of life. FENZA language courses provide a good foundation for Chibemba & Chinyanja languages, beyond the learning of grammar and vocabulary.

Language Courses

Nyanja & Bemba: Advanced level (6 weeks)

30 April - 08 June 2012. Teaching Monday - Friday, 09:00 - 12:30 hours.

This course is given for people who know basically the grammar of the languages, and who want to deepen their language skills. It is designed especially for students who have previously followed and completed the intensive courses for beginners.

Fees: 1,200,000 Kwacha

Welcome to Zambia Programme (two weeks)

Takes place from the 3 - 14 of September 2012

This course gives an overview over Zambian history, economics, politics, the cultural sphere, the religious life. It is not only designed for newcomers to Zambia!

• Pre-colonial and colonial history of Zambia
• Basic “rules of behaviour” (the do’s and don’ts)
• Kinship, family & rules of belonging
• Costs of living & economics of Zambia
• The reality of homeless children
• traditional education & initiation
• Initiation rites (participatory)
• Politics in Zambia
• HIV/AIDS in Zambia
• The role of chiefs
• Traditional healers and healing in Zambia
• Religion & worldviews
• New churches and religious movements in Zambia

Classes take place in the morning from 09:00 - 12:30.

Fees: 750,000 Kwacha.

Intensive courses for Chinyanja and Chibemba (10 weeks)

17 September - 23 November 2012

Teaching takes place Monday - Friday, 09:00 - 12:30 hours.

For beginners

The Intensive Course provides a solid grammatical foundation for either Bemba or Nyanja. Each day consists of three hours intensive teaching. At the same time the course is very practical. The "White Fathers" have an experience of teaching Zambian languages for more than hundred years. The Zambian language teachers are professional, trained, and flexible. For the Bemba course, also language CDs are available. This course demands a full-time commitment from the participants. (If wished by the participants, a two weeks extension may be added - as requested by last years' participants).

Costs: 2,000,000 Kwacha

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To register for any of the courses, or to inquire about other possibilities, please write an email to the director@fenza.org.

 

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