Samantha Hyde

Lubuto was excited to host MLIS student intern Samantha Hyde in July for a three-week internship focused on music, movement, and scientific inquiry in early childhood programming. Previously the Director of Education at the Colorado Ballet, Samantha is currently enrolled at Indiana University – Bloomington working towards a dual Master's degree in Library Science and African Studies while serving as the Company Manager for IU’s African American Dance Company of the African American Arts Institute. We are delighted to name Samantha Hyde our Volunteer of the Month!

Samantha spent her time in Zambia based at the Lubuto Model Library, where her days were full of early childhood programs co-facilitated by Brendah Mkandawire, Lubuto’s Family Literacy Coordinator. With Samantha and Brendah, kids explored their own styles of creative movement, conducted color-mixing experiments, made rice “dance” with baking soda, and did some dancing of their own during themed storytimes!

Samantha says it was an experience of mutual learning: “One of the most rewarding parts was working directly with…Brendah, and learning from her. We both brought activity ideas to the table, tried them together with kids, and made decisions on what to include in the curriculum. Watching Brendah get as excited about the ‘magic milk’ experiment as me helped to form a connection right from the start…. We both learned a great deal from one another.”

Brendah and Samantha jointly developed written early childhood curricula focused on music, movement, and scientific inquiry for use in future programming and training. Samantha also “brought excitement to the drama group in terms of contemporary dances,” Besa said, teaching them a West African dance that the teens plan to perform in August.

The children and staff of the Model Library all miss Samantha, and we hope to see her in Zambia again soon!