Finishing strong and looking towards the future.

Since my last blog entry I have done the Sophakama Tutor Training twice. The first was back in Jeffrey’s Bay In October. There I trained 3 individuals. One was a Dutch missionary that volunteered with Joshua Project in Humansdorp. They are reaching out to the community that lives next to the rubbish dump. 

 The second training was in December in Ysterfontein, George. There I trained 10 ladies, working within a very poor community. I enjoyed training these ladies who have a true heart of compassion for the children in their community. Some ladies were already teaching at a Preschool on the premises where we had our training. They are well trained and with their ECD background they quickly understood my perception development exercises and the six steps of learning to read. Some of the other ladies are keen to help children in their community who struggle with reading and mathematics. I will be happy to give them their certificates once they complete their practical lessons.

 And so as 2023 draws to a close. I have a very strategic vision for 2024 onwards that I call: “The Roadtrip Circles Vision.” I have identified certain towns close to one another as possible circles where I would like to travel to in order to do training there. I am investigating the following circles for the first phase of this project.

* Kirkwood, Addo and Paterson area 

* Thornhill, Loerie, Hankey and Patensie area 

* Humansdorp, Clarkson and Kareedouw area 

* Joubertina and Misgund area 

* Willowmore, Bestersdal and Sonop area

* Steytlerville and Kleinpoort area 

* Somerset East, Cookhouse and Bedford area. 

 If you know of any stakeholders that I can contact in one of these areas, please let me know.  

Peace! 

Evelyn

August already!

Wow! This year is running ahead with a speed! In the Second Term I finished 2023's ACTT students here at Global Challenge. They did their practicals in their own communities and they might even continue with the children that they started with for the sake of the practical credits. I trust that they will. They graduated at a beautiful, intimate ceremony and we celebrated their future in Education with them. I heard good reports from the guys in the Transkei where I taught last year. They are taking the training further to other communities that is in need of this information. I also did three Sophakama Tutor Training Workshops. The first was in Jeffreys' Bay (6 May) with a diverse group of students. The second was in Mosselbay (10-11 July) with two NGO leaders who want to expand their ministry scope and the third was in Paarl (24 July) with a couple of Stellenbosch Teaching students. While I was away a Maths Club started in Ocean View, Jeffreys' Bay with a group of High School students. I am really excited about that!

Going deeper into real problems.

 

In January, February and March 2023, I spent a few days each month in Port Alfred, where I trained 8 people with the ABC Adventure material. Most of them are already involved with an Aftercare in one of the schools, so they do have the opportunity to practice what they have learned.

February and March we attended their Aftercare, which was good as to help with some practical advice where needed. What struck me in February again, was how a little bit of input, can accomplish so much. We helped some kids with Maths that they did not understand and when they got it, it lead to them explaining it to others around them.

In March, there was a girl, who in that week was raped. Carina could counsel her a bit and help with some of the official processes. I am deeply concerned about rape and what devastating effect it has on a person. The question that is burning inside of me is, how such a person can come to a place of healing, so that the rest of their lives are not determined by that and so that their value is not forever equated to that act of cruelty! Of course, a lot of energy must go into protecting and preventing such things. What role can and should Educational Centers play in this?

In March I also linked up again with a boy who are selling fruit in town, but who actually wants to go back to school. We finally got to the bottom of the problem: He does not have a birth certificate. With his mother having already passed on, the matter is complicated, but not impossible. A social worker at Joshua Project has given me advice on how to tackle this matter, for which I am very grateful.

Sophakama! We shall rise!

Evelyn