By Ali Corbett | Project Leader
For many teachers in the townships, formal college is extremely daunting. Many have not had the opportunity to have formal schooling beyond the age of 15 and so their approach to learning is different. Others have been able to finish school but their experience wasn't great. They are scared. They don't want to make a fool of themselves. They often don't understand the educational theory and material given at college.
And yet - they are brilliant teachers in the classroom. They have a passion for their work, they love the children and they want to know more! There is a desperate need for excellent early childhood education in the townships to try to bridge the poverty gap. How can we make best practice schools happen? Practice, Persistence and Patience are key ingredients!
So what is the solution? Our educational team has found a blended approach works best. During COVID our schools all shut down and the teachers felt helpless and frustrated. In 2021, we have been able to restart our practical skills workshops held monthly. Our Saturday morning workshop is fun, interactive and hands-on! We tackle topics pertinent to the early childhood milestones and we provide practical skills training that will allow the teacher to go back into the classroom on a Monday morning and implement what they have learned. During lockdown and into the first quarter of 2021, we have created bright practical learning material including posters, "how to" ideas and checklists. This C.A.L.M (Classroom and Learning Management) material will aid teachers to create excellent learning environments for the children.
But we believe the workshops are not enough! They whett the apetite for learning and excite the teachers, but for many implementing the material into the classroom and managing children can be daunting. So every month our 3 fieldworkers, Noms, Joyce and Lebo, visit our 30 schools on a rotational basis. Once there they spend time with the teachers role modelling best practice, supporting with ideas, and mentoring teachers who are having difficulties. These visits are key to our success. The teachers love them, they feel empowered and encouraged and the children benefit from the professional support.
But this is still not enough! Most of the schools we work with are very poor, they have little or no resources, and after Covid lockdown little money to buy resources. This is where our Friends of Starting Chance save the day! Through donations and support we are able to buy educational packs for each school and the teachers are trained by our field workers to use the educational material. We also collect recyclable material and train our teachers how to create material of their own. In this way, we equip our schools and give our children of Mfuleni the Starting Chance they deserve! And the help and support is so appreciated:
"I'd like to extend our gratitude to Starting Chance with many thanks for the resourceful packages we have been given"
"I want to thank Starting Chance for all their support and unconditional love. Thank you for the package and teaching materials"
As Covid numbers remain low at the moment we now have 1434 children enrolled in the 30 schools we support.
There are 121 teachers requiring training, visits and support.
With your help, we can make 2021 a year in which children in Mfuleni are given a chance to fly. Let's do it!
Links:
By Ali Corbett | Project leader
By Ian Corbett | Project Leader
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