Many Opportunities opening up.

In the past 2 months I had many opportunities to do training.

The first was at Walmer Link in Gqeberha at the Mosaic SA school. There I trained 7 (teachers and parents) with the Sophakama Tutor material. My old friend, Bongiwe Robin introduced me to this ministry and I was happy to see the passionate work that they are doing there.

 

When I first lived in Jeffreys' Bay (2014-2017), I always wanted to do something in Hankey, but it did not open up for me. In June 2021 I finally had that opportunity, when I was invited to train some of the Carers of Thorros Child and Youth Care Centre. I became aware of the great tool that the Sophakama Tutor Training is in situations like these and trust that each carer will grow in their skills as they help the children there.

I also had two opportunities in Jeffreys' Bay that opened up. The one was at Joshua Project. I met Lunga Mlangeni (director) at a prayer event for non-profit organizations and he invited me to do some training with their teachers. I was happy for the opportunity and look forward to continue a relationship with them.

 

Finally, for 3 consecutive Mondays I did training at LXP with students and some staff. They have recently started an Aftercare with 70+ children from the community. Because they will in reality not engage in one on one or small group tutoring, I had to adapt my approach and lean more on my experience as a class teacher to help them in this task. I have committed myself to help them with material for the different levels as well as to on a weekly basis help them plan their weekly teaching program. I am so excited about this new Aftercare. I did some reading evaluation with some of the kids and found they are truly in need of some major intervention. May God help us!

 

A year of Covid 19!

 I finished the first term of 2020 at Carinus School in March 2020 and was not able to return to the school for the rest of the year.

The Maths Club's doors were closed until September 2020, but then we continued until November 2020.  I got two new tutors there in Xoliswa Tshingana and Antoinette Botha.

The Internship continued from mid-May to mid- June virtually, but then we continued in person classes again on a weekly basis.  Because my apartment was too small to keep social distance and specifically for transport protocols, we met the first 3 months at the URCSA church building in Michausdal.  The numbers fell to only three through this whole process.  At the end of October we had our graduation party with much joy and thankfulness.  It was held at the Church Building of Victory Family Church Cradock. I was so grateful when one of the Interns started work as a teachers assistant at the beginning of 2021.

Then, at the end of November I moved back to Jeffreys' Bay.  So far this year I have done the Sophakama Tutor Training 3 times already. Firstly to a teacher that is going to help struggling kids at Oakridge School, after that to 9 students with the new ABC Adventure Program at GLA and lastly to some of the teachers at the Makukhanye Primary School.  4 of the ABC Adventure students did their practical at Makukhanye school and are now helping struggling kids at the school on a weekly basis.

Being back in Jeffreys Bay, I am taking time to once again market the different training opportunities in the Kouga area as well as the Nelson Mandela Bay Metro.

In a few month's time it will be 10 years since I returned to South Africa and started this work of tutoring children from poorer communities.  The Sophakama Tutor Programme has been a good tool to help many kids.

I am grateful!

Evelyn