Reaching out to the Poorest of the Poor - p.4

South Africa

Volunteer with kids

School of Hope addresses the need to reach children that are at risk – those who have dropped out of school, those who have turned to crime or drugs in order to alleviate poverty, peer pressure & parental neglect; abused children; child prostitutes and gang affected children. The school provides educational intervention to support the rehabilitation of these children who have spent long periods on the street and who have missed out on long periods of school.

Located in Bridgetown, the school provides academic education in a number of subjects including Literacy, Numeracy, Economic and Management Sciences, Natural Sciences, Human and Social Sciences as well as Business Economics. The school also has a computer-based English literacy program and computer-based academic support materials.
 
A resource center library ensures that the learners are motivated to read and do independent research. Learners are also encouraged to make use of the public library.

Volunteers provide Art, Music, Drama and Sport classes which not only stimulate the creative abilities of learners but also serve as therapeutic processes to help learners deal with difficult backgrounds. Learners also receive a nutritional lunch snack daily. To ensure the curriculum is relevant, learners are taken on outings that emphasize life skills and leadership.

Devon Valley Primary School in Stellenbosch is the location of Thembalitsha’s Pre-Primary School, Graceland. Many children enter Grade 1 with no academic preparation because they are left to roam the streets or fields while their parents work.

Most learners who attend Graceland are children of farm workers from the surrounding winelands. Some of them exhibit signs of Fetal Alcohol Syndrome (FAS) and other disabilities and conditions and require extra attention and stimulation. The cause of FAS can be attributed to the use or abuse of alcohol during pregnancy.

Research and statistics have proven that children who have attended two years of pre-school are more likely to complete their twelfth year of school successfully. With Graceland, children have a chance at a better education through the establishment of basic learning foundations.

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