By Sarah Kim and Inji Kim from Pluscope (pluscope.com)
Jabez cried out to the God of Israel, “Oh that you would bless me and enlarge my territory! Let your hand be with me, and keep me from harm so that I will be free from pain.” And God granted his request.
(1 Chronicles 4:10)
Pluscope (Plus+scope) was founded on the Bible verse 1 Chronicles 4:10 and the part “enlarge my territory” became the root of its name. Pluscope wishes to be the tool to enlarge the spiritual, intellectual, and environmental territory or scope of both teachers and students.
Our mission is to provide educational opportunities to students in developing countries while allowing retired seniors and volunteers in developed countries to have healthy and meaningful experiences. As a result, each class will enrich the lives of students who lack sufficient education as well as the lives of teachers.
We have conducted classes mainly in East Africa, the Middle East, and South America in countries such as Ethiopia, Madagascar, Rwanda, Tanzania, Zambia, Lebanon, Dominican Republic, Brazil, Colombia, and Turkey. The time difference between Canada and most of the countries listed above is compatible. Although we have conducted many classes, there are continuous requests from missionaries, churches, NGOs, and orphanages in Western Africa, South East Asia, and all over the world, so we are looking for teachers in order to support more classes. There are needs for Bible study, basic English classes, courses for Microsoft program use (such as Google docs), etc.
There is a real-time online platform for classes developed by Pluscope called Gible (gibleworld.com). Classes are held either through Gible or Zoom. We also have our own curricula for basic English classes that we made for teachers and students. If you have your own materials or would like to design some, you are more than welcome! We value all efforts you put into helping the students.
As little as one hour a week is enough to meet students online to share your skills and knowledge. One session is eight weeks (most developing countries usually have a week of pause, so it is basically a seven-week curriculum) and the class is one hour long with one teacher once a week. After the eight-week class, the class begins again after a week or two depending on preparations for the next class. The classes are more than delivering messages and information. They are opportunities to expand the students’ future and to make a difference in their lives.
Pluscope got connected with SOCEM in 2018 and we’ve been working together since. Pluscope has been participating in SOCEM’s conferences and prayer meetings, and we are getting help in various ways from SOCEM.
ESL teachers and seniors at SOCEM have taught and are currently teaching online classes with us.
- Colin Brewster:
- Dilla, Ethiopia—Basic English Class for middle school students (16 weeks, 2018, 2019)
- Arusha, Tanzania—Basic English Class for elementary school students (8 weeks, 2019)
- Turkey—Teacher Training for Afghanistan refugee English teachers from Big Dream School—Colin’s own educational curriculum (12 weeks, 2022)
- Turkey—Bible Study with intermediate level Afghanistan refugees—Colin’s online curriculum to watch short Bible movies, understand words and sentences, and quiz the Bible story (17 weeks, in progress, 2022)
- Roslyn Farmer, Johnson Hsu, William Stevenson (with ESL volunteers from Bayview Glen Church and ISMC—International Student Ministries Canada): English classes consisting of reading and understanding Bible articles created by Roslyn, and a conversation curriculum by Johnson based on what students have learned from the Bible class.
- Madagascar—Bible study for nurses and workers at Africa Future Foundation (17 weeks, 2021)
- Lebanon—Bible study for Syrian refugees girls at Maranatha School (16 weeks, 2021)
- Stacey Raymond:
- Rwanda—Basic English class for 5 students from 3rd-6th grades aged 10 to 14 (8 weeks, 2021)
Also, volunteers are currently responsible for 120 students with basic English education in a Colombian public school and for Basic English classes with 10 Haitian refugees in the Dominican Republic. Starting in June, Pluscope will teach basic English classes to Syrian refugees in Turkey.
With all that said, we are looking for volunteers and senior teachers who can be a positive influence in the lives of these students! Please join us on our journey and keep us in your prayers! Thank you and God bless you.
Follow our journey on Instagram:
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/pluscope_gible
For more information or registration, please visit our website:
https://gibleworld.com/page/Become_a_Teacher.php or contact us at contact@pluscope.com