Training in Parkside, Port Elizabeth.

I have been a little quiet lately, but this does not 

mean that I have been sitting quietly.

Last Saturday I trained 20 people in Parkside, Port 

Elizabeth with the Sophakama Tutor Programme Material.

They were actually people from all over the Northern 

Areas that were recruted under the leadership of 

Felicity Malgas and the Church of the Nazarene in 

Parkside.  I was impresses by the quality, passion and 

vision of the 20 tutor trainees.  It excites me to 

think what could happen if all of these women starts 

to tutor children that struggles with reading and maths. 

I know for a fact that there is a great need for such 

tutors in the Northern Areas. In a community where 

drugs, gangsterism, violence, unemployment, etc. are in

the headlines, there are also churches, parents and 

community members who are willing to invest in 

childrens' lives.  With every child that learns to read

and therefore succeeds in school the hope of a better 

future lights up.

Contact me if you would like to start a Sophakama Tutor

Programme in your community.

Just a Teacher at Heart.

In January, I trained most of the teachers of a school in Jeffreys Bay on how to help learners that struggle with reading and maths. It was well received, but I did not know how and if they would implement it. Now recently, I have received feedback that they are implementing it and that it is making a difference in the learners' academic lives. I was so happy to receive this positive report. On top of that, the head master sent a message to me that he would like me to come for a follow-up visit. :-D

In February, I started at Pellsrus Primary School, working with the Grade 2 and 3 learners that the teachers identified as needing help. I can already see improvement in all the learners. This is a real encouragement to me.

I also met some people in Hankey and Patensie this past week to whom I introduced the Sophakama Tutor Programme. They seemed interested and will speak to community members and hopefully come back to me with some people that will be interested to receive training and become tutors in their communities.

In this way the work is expanding and more children benefit with skills that will help them to build their future. (At the end of March I had contact again with a boy who we worked with for 5 years. He is now in the High School and is doing well. He is so motivated to be successful. It is nice to see fruit on our labour.)

After 23 years of teaching children I still get energized when children engage and learn. Guess, I am just a teacher at heart.

Keep the Passion!

I moved this week to a different part of Jbay, right across the street from a Primary School.  It has been fun to hear the children voices since Wednesday coming from there.  It is athletics season and even the old “Mango, Mango!” can still be heard from the supporters.

On a different note, but I suppose not completely a new theme, Mrs. Mbiko, who was involved in leadership with the SGB's in the Nelson Mandela Bay Metro, passed on last Friday.  I am sad.  The last time we spoke, she said she still would like me to come do training in a certain school in Port Elizabeth.  Apart from that, I still wanted to ask her many questions.  I learned so much from her about the true situation in our schools.  She was always full of hope that, through co-operation with the community, the situation in our schools can be changed for the better.  I solute you for your commitment, Mrs. Mbiko! Rest in peace!

The camp with the girls of the Child Welfare of Humansdorp in December, was a huge success.  It was lovely to spend time with these girls on the brink of adolescence.  We work with the theme of the different aspects of a person's identity, which was well received.  We were however, not only serious the weekend.  We had fun on the beach, at the amusement park and with Sophakama's trademark Concert.  It was interesting to notice the differences between an all boys concert and an all girls concert.  The boys are more into rap and dance, while the girls are more into singing and movement.

I look forward to continue with the Aftercare of the Humansdorp Child Welfare this year.  New schools in Jeffreys Bay and continuing work in Patensie are also on the cards for this year.

May this New Year be a very good year for all of you!  Keep the passion to bring good change for learners all across our land.

Evelyn