Western Cape Literacy Tutor Programme Progress Report – June 2019As we are halfway through the year, this report will focus on the progress of our Western Cape Literacy Tutors, working in Khayelitsha and Wemmershoek Primary Schools.
A message from our LT Relationships Coordinator in the Western Cape: We have come this far by believing we can achieve our goals we set, overcome the challenges of each new day, perseverance with each learner when they find it extremely difficult to concentrate and continue, looking for solutions to solve problems we face at school, with staff, within the team and having a never giving up spirit! We are through term 2 understanding our purpose and commitment and those who are still not on the path are still discovering their need to belong. The LT teams are more aware of where they want to be and how they will move forward on this journey and that’s okay. Many have grown emotionally and made their mark in the life of the learners they are supporting as well as being the example to follow the lifestyle changes they have chosen. Our learners are now more comfortable with the support they are receiving from the LT’s and opened their minds to new things they are learning, understanding that it takes time, effort, energy and loads of positive thinking to read, write and understand the work they need to complete and achieve to become the best learner they can be! I want to commend the senior LT team for the hard-work they have continued to produce, willingness to put in the hours and hand over the many talents they have to the younger people they support.
Below find the inspiring message and experience from our Senior LT, Jevine at Wemmershoek primary school:
''I started my journey with Help2read as a literacy tutor last year. When the opportunity arrived I applied for the position as senior literacy tutor. It's been a journey full of ups and downs but as I was taught you always make the best of a bad situation. Whenever bad days strike I only think about the difference we make helping many young lives. Over the past year and half I have encountered many happy moments with learners at school as well the community. To see a Grade 4 learner showing off their skill after just four sessions is remarkable to any tutor. To hear a child read a book from beginning to end is worth celebrating because only you and that child know the effort that went into reaching that milestone. Besides a warm bed and food children need love, attention and most of all praise. To see a face brighten up after a simple "well done" is truly heartwarming. I thought I had my life set out but then the opportunity to be a part of Help2read came my way. Slowly but surely I realized that finally I can make a difference in young lives and live out the passion hidden deep down inside of me. To help children thrive is a blessing and even if I've helped only one child throughout my journey it would be worth all the challenges and obstacles that I have conquered so far.'' - Jevine -Senior LT Wemmershoek Primary/Franschhoek.
Progress at the Western Cape LT schools:Team KhayelitshaJune has been a very short working month and there were a few difficulties in getting learners, since they were writing their mid year examinations. There were sessions observed during the Month of June, because we could not get any children or learners. There were also a few events that took place during this short period of time that we had. We planned for Reading and Spelling Bee competition that was a great success. We prepared rewards for best Spellers and best readers. We mostly focused on the learners that are in the help2Read program. The competition took place on the 10th of June.
LT’s currently remaining at the end of this term
Literacy Tutors based at school 13
Senior LT 0
Assistant LT 01
Events at the school:The spelling and reading competition took place at our Schoool, Sobambisana Primary School on the 10th of June. We had great support from the learners of the school on the day from grades 2-5. Our prizes for the top three participants and runner-up were awarded at the end of our competition and were nothing else but games and books. The most rewarding part was to see and be in the presence of 120 learners who attended the event. We had 3 judges that helped assess the learners, the rest of the tutors were helping in keeping order in the space in which the audience attended and supported the brave learners.
Team WemmershoekOur team at Wemmershoek Primary has been stable and consistent with attendance, growth and learning steps taken over the past six months. They are willing and very capable of achieving their best outcome on a personal level if they continue to believe in themselves and support the learners as they do. The staff and principal are a supporting team who show their appreciation to the support team at the school. During the month of May the team was invited by the educators to put together a concert and showcase their work at the end of the term at Franschhoek High. They did a fabulous job (the first of many to come) with the learners who were willing to be part of the Arts & Culture opportunity and perform with other schools in the Franschhoek Valley. Raw talent from learners and LTs alike was exposed and will now be known to those who attended the concert. The learning points in this exercise were noted and have been expressed to the team.
Team members have the following skills within the team:
• Project planning
• Time management
• Choreography
LT’s currently remaining at the end of this term:
Literacy Tutors based at school 15
Senior LT 02
Assistant LT 02
Events at the school:Talent show: We had lots of fun coaching some of our Grade ones, fours and sevens for the talent show presented on the 11th of June. As we didn’t have much time to rehearse due to exams, we had to put in double the effort and sweat but at the end of the day we had great success. Our Grade ones sang “Enemies camp” and they blew us away with their performance because for most of them it was their first time on stage. They were absolutely adorable!
Drama: Our Grade 4 learners entertained us with a short drama session about bullying. They delivered a strong message about bullying, the use of substance abuse and most of all about being there for one another. A sober, helping hand and forgiveness also featured which made it interesting, yet funny and definitely worth the watch. Our "tjanke balies” in action Our young actors doing their thing.
Dance: A spiritual dance was performed by our grade 6 learners. They enjoyed their performance just as much as the audience enjoyed watching it. A lot of practice went in to prepare them for a spectacular performance. All of our groups did so well that we were asked by the principal to do another show at teacher/parent evening in the next term.
Overall, we have made progress and our voices are respected and heard at the school. The most important role we play is to have a place to share the importance of literacy in the school life of the learners who enjoy the interaction with a team of young people they can relate to and build the bridges of change, open minds to new possibilities and gaining knowledge to help them to achieve a better future!
Training, Development and GrowthHelp2read Period: 3 June to 31 July 2019
Target Audience: 28 Tutors: 15 based in Wemmershoek; 13 in Khayalitsha to be trained at Help2read premises, Century City.
Purpose: to train the above tutors in the following topics:
• Self-confidence
• Self-care (burnout prevention, personal hygiene)?
• Respecting self and others
• Interpersonal skills (empathy, compassion)
• Managing emotions
• Personal responsibility (dependability)
• Positive attitude
• Self-motivation
• Conflict Management
• Team work
• Communication
• Planning and organizing skills, time management
• Job searching skills, CV writing, interviewing skills
• Image and appearance
The journey and learning experience of a help2read literacy tutor-2019''When I heard of this internship I just thought it was a job for young people. I didn’t know that it would have such a huge impact in my life. I took it as an opportunity, when I was called in for the interview and just went there because I wanted to do something in this year since I couldn’t go further with my studies. As time went by I started to understand the organization, it was such a blessing for me to be part of this organization and help children with their literacy. This programme is special because it activated the integrity within me .I became passionate about teaching. It is so wonderful and also a blessing seeing children striving towards their success and knowing that I was part of their development academically. I have learnt new things but the one thing that stands out was perseverance. I became so patient about everything not only in help2read but me spiritually and mentally. I want to thank the whole organization for giving me this opportunity. I treasure the opportunity given to me and will recommend the journey of discovery to my peers because it is a life changing experience for both learner and tutor. Thank you so much, I am really grateful.'' - Live - Sobambisana Primary/Khayelitsha
''Working with children was never in my future plans and never imagined working in such an environment. Since I started this help2read internship I have experienced a lot of fun learning new things that I never thought I had in me. I've gained the skill of interacting with the children in various ways and also life skills from this organization and attending workshops. Help2read internship opened the door to work with Light Sailed where the children do online reading. I have the opportunity to apply my computer skills by designing certificates for the children that read the most books in a short period of time and achieve badges. I'm also given the opportunity to design posters and certificates for all the help2read events that we have at Sobambisana Primary School such as holiday club, Africa day, and more. I am honored to be granted such a great opportunity.'' - Lindokuhle - Sobambisana Primary/Khayelitsha
''Since I started on the 1 of February 2019 it has been an amazing journey, even though working with kids is not something new to me. I have worked with children before but being in this organization has helped me a lot how to work with children in a humble way. Help2read has trainings that are so good and educational they are very much needed especially to me as a young mom because you not only taught about children but yourself. I had a low self-esteem when I started but those training have boosted my confidence and I would like to say thank you for allowing me to be part of this amazing team'' - Sinomnqophiso - Sobambisana Primary/Khayelitsha.
''I started at help2read from the 01 of February 2019, it was so amazing! I was happy to be part of our first event on Read Aloud day which was so good. At first I did not know what read aloud day was but since that day I gained knowledge, confidence and courage as it was my first day reading aloud to the children. I have gained experience here at help 2read and how to deal with learners especially on those one-one sessions and how to communicate with them. The trainings that we have been attending helped me to face challenges on the days I feel like giving up. Overall it has been a humbling experience and a real joy to work for the organization.'' - Zandile - Sobambisana Primary/Khayelitsha
''Starting from the day I arrived here on help2read literacy programme I was very shy because I wasn’t sure what I was going to face. The experience was new but as time passed I realised that there is nothing difficult about this literacy internship. I have learnt so much in the work place that will help me find opportunities to look for jobs for example; how to communicate with people and young children, working as group and how to tutor learners in English. I am very proud of the changes I have made in my life and the knowledge gained to teach learners because it has made me think of my career and applying for a teaching course.'' Thembela - Sobambisana Primary/Khayelitsha
''My experience at help2read since I started helped me gain a lot of skills in different areas in my life. I am grateful for all the workshops we are attending to improve our skills. Working with children can be a bit challenging but I can now handle the pressure because of the skills that I gained from the workshops. It is great honor to work for such an amazing organization that grow and expand young minds and including myself to be better.'' - Zonke - Sobambisana Primary/Khayelitsha
''To me it is a great privilege to be a part of the help2read programme and be the reason a child improves every day. The help2read organization has been so far helping me to improve my confidence to communicate more freely and openly with my peers and learners which I was not able to do before. I am helping the children by developing their reading and listening skills. A tutor can't just give a child a book and expect them to read but first build trust in me and help build their self-confidence to make them feel comfortable reading in English and by understanding it. Most days it can be difficult teaching the children but worth knowing that you as a tutor have a positive impact on a child's future. The impacts I have on the children are by making them believe they are better and by reminding them that they can do better because each day is a learning day for everyone. My input on a child is helping them to find courage at what they doing and to become a better person. It has been a great experience so far to be part of the help2read programme.'' - Veronique -Wemmershoek Primary/Franschhooek
''I am Danielle Petersen a Help2Read Literacy Tutor at Wemmershoek Primary. In 2018, I matriculated at Kylemore High. In my primary and high school years, I have always wanted to become a teacher. After my matric year, I decided to apply for this internship, as a tutor to help me understand the basics of teaching and how to work with children and different personalities, ages and circumstances. In addition to see if this is really what I wanted to do as a career. I heard about the Help2Read Organization and immediately decided to apply. I believe reading plays a crucial role in a child's success in life. Ever since the day I have started at Help2Read, my life has changed in many positive ways. I never had patience in my life but being a LT helped me so much to have patience. I am so blessed to be part of the Help2Read team and the children I have been with the past months. The children definitely taught me a lot and I am so honoured to be part of their success.'' - Danielle -Wemmershoek Primary/Franschhoek
''My journey at help2read started as a literacy tutor at Wemmershoek Primary in 2017. When I started the journey I was so afraid and shy and didn’t really know what to do at first. Thereafter training for tutors started and all the fun began. My journey was a slow process but I overcame my fear but need to work on the shyness. Through this programme I gained self-confidence and self-motivation skills. My confidence boost gave me the courage to apply my mind and skills to apply for Assistant Literacy Tutor this year and in a leadership role, I never dreamt of taking on! If it wasn`t for help2read training sessions, life skills and new things we taught I wouldn`t be who I am today and I`m proud of myself and the progress made.'' - Junica -Assistant Literacy Tutor – Wemmershoek Primary/Franschhoek
''I am Sue-Ria Arendse, 19 years old and live in Franschhoek. I am a literacy tutor at Wemmershoek Primary, this is my second year as literacy tutor and so far I’ve been experiencing quite a lot of new adventures and gained knowledge along the way. The children teach us as tutor’s new things as we help them improve. It's been a fun and interesting journey with help2read and the children enjoy themselves with us. My goal for next year is to go further my studies in educare and I’m proud to say I can do that because of all the new skills I received from help2read.I'm looking forward to a fun, jolly and also educational experience for the rest of the year.'' - Sue-Ria – Wemmershoek Primary/Franschhoek
''My experience with Help2Read has been great, honestly speaking. The internship has made me have an open mind about myself and what I would like to do in the near future. Teaching was never ideal but now that I’ve got the opportunity to be part of the Help2Read team, I see it an opportunity to become a teacher. It’s a nice experience to work with different people and different types of personalities. The children have made me see things as positive rather negative because of the joy we as the LT’s bring to the children. - Sange -Sobambisana Primary/Khayelitsha
''To be a LT is one of the most rewarding experiences in my life .Being able to open a world of exploring to children struggling with schoolwork is a privilege, many children struggle with school work because they fail to understand when questions are asked. When they can read they receive the most out of school work. This in turn can again push that child’s confidence and self-esteem. Keeping them motivated to remain at school and build a better foundation for when they become an adult. The opportunity especially with the one on one sessions helps to see and experience the growth in that child as well as the joy and confidence boost they receive. Every step of improvement is what makes it worth being in the shoes as literacy tutor. I would like to know more because I want to start my own after school program for children with reading and learning difficulties. Reading can empower children, opening a whole new world of possibilities which in return can produce a more mature and literate adult hence breaking the chain of poverty as well as building strong communities and a nation.'' - Inske -Wemmershoek Primary/Franschhoek
''I am Lee-Nay this is my second year at Help2Read. Working at Help2Read made me realize that learning comes both ways and it comes in ways we didn’t expect it. The experience at work is beyond words. I have learnt how to be patient and to understand that not all children learn the same way but that all children are special in their own way. I have learnt how to work out strategies for different situations and sometimes I didn’t know how able and capable I am to do certain things. Working at Help2Read really changed my life because on days when I don’t feel good, coming to work can change a life and that makes me happy again. The children in my care are really extraordinary and special.'' - Lee-nay Wemmershoek Primary Franschhoek
