The state of education in South Africa is of nationwide concern. When almost 80% of grade five learners are judged to be at “serious risk of not learning to read”, as measured by international benchmark, it is not an overstatement to say that South African education is in crisis. This crisis takes on a moral dimension when one considers that, by the age of eight, the poorest 80% of learners face a substantial learning deficit. In other words, by an early age there are already stark distinctions between the prospects of children from poorer communities and those from more affluent ones – Mail & Guardian Online.

These are the statistics that prompted AK Family Care Programme youth mentor, Nelio Khumalo, to start a Life Skills Programme as part of the aftercare programme at the Westbury campus.

In September 2017, we started the Life Skills Programme, which aims to improve the reading and writing skills of our beneficiaries who struggle with the English language. We realised that a number of our beneficiaries were having trouble reading and writing in English and their poor performance was reflected in their school results.

To help our beneficiaries overcome this challenge, we have come up with various ways to improve their skills such as reading with the children and to have them read to us and write more. To help them understand, relate and learn from the material we give them, beneficiaries are assessed on their progress on a monthly basis by Nelio and the childcare givers.

Although we have limited resources to help our beneficiaries, our vision with this project is to ensure our children’s growth and development to help them in the future.  Isaac Sedumedi (14) is one beneficiary whose progress has encouraged us to continue with this programme. Isaac lives in Slovo Park informal settlement with his aunt who works as a volunteer at Helen Joseph Hospital and receives a monthly stipend to support Isaac and the family. Isaac’s home environment does not offer him any educational support which has had a negative impact on his educational capabilities.

We realised Isaac was having trouble when he was studying for an English test. He battled to read some of the words and could not make sense of the material he had to study. We assisted Isaac and worked through the material and within a month he had shown a lot of improvement in his reading and pronunciation. Though there is still room for improvement in terms of understanding the material he has to write and read, Isaac’s 4^th term results improved tremendously as compared to the first three terms of the school year.

It is great to see our beneficiaries exert themselves and want to improve and do better. We hope we can help more beneficiaries reach their potential.

Waar kom punte en hoofletters?

Die stand van die opvoeding in Suid-Afrika is kommerwekkend. Wanneer 80% van graad vyf leerders die risiko loop om nie te leer lees nie, soos gemeet deur ’n internasionale metingstandaard, kan mens nie oorbeklemtoon dat die Suid-Afrikaanse opvoedingsstelsel ’n krisis beleef nie.  Die krisis kry ’n morele dimensie wanneer mens in ag neem dat die armste 80% van leerders, reeds op ‘n vroeëouderdom ’n betekenisvolle agterstand het ten opsigte van hulle opvoeding. Met ander woorde reeds op ’n baie jong ouderdom lyk die vooruitsigte vir kinders uit arm gemeenskappe beduidend swakker as die uit meer gegoede omgewings – Vrylik vertaal uit ’n berig in die “Mail & Guardian Online”.

Dit is hierdie statistieke wat vir Nelio Khumalo, jeugmentor  vir die AK Gesinsorgprogram in Westbury gemotiveer het om met ‘n lewensvaardigheidsprogram te begin as deel van die na-skool diens wat reeds daar aangebied word.

In September 2017 is daar begin met ‘n lewensvaardigheidsprogram wat ten doel het om kinders se lees- en skryfvaardighede te verbeter. Dit is veral gemik op kinders wat sukkel met Engels. ‘n Groot aantal kinders se swak prestasies op skool kon direk verbind word met hulle lees- en skryfvaardighede in Engels.

Ons het eenvoudige strategieë aangewend om die uitdaging te oorkom. Ons lees vir hulle en hulle lees vir ons en word aangemoedig om meer te skryf. Om hulle te help verstaan, te leer en kennis te integreer uit die materiaal wat ons hulle gee, word die jongmense maandeliks deur Nelio en die kinderversorgers geassesseer.

Ten spyte van beperkte bronne om ons begunstigdes te help, bly dit ons visie om die kinders se groei en ontwikkeling te bevorder in die toekoms. Isaac Sedumedi (14) is een seun wat so gevorder het dat dit  ons aangemoedig het om met die program aan te hou. Isaac bly by sy tante in Slovopark informele nedersetting. Sy werk as vrywilliger by Helen Joseph Hospitaal, waar sy ‘n maandelikse toelaag ontvang om vir Isaac en die gesin te sorg. Tuis kry hy geen opvoedkundige ondersteuning nie en dit het ‘n negatiewe impak gehad op sy vordering op akademiese gebied.

Ons kon sien Isaac sukkel toe hy vir ‘n Engelse toets moes voorberei. Hy het gesukkel om sekere woorde te lees en kon nie sin maak van wat hy lees nie. Ons het saam met hom deur die leermateriaal gewerk en binne ‘n maand het hy reeds groot vordering getoon in sy leesvermoë en uitspraak. Terwyl daar nog baie werk nodig is met sy begrip van die materiaal wat hy leer, het Isaac in die 4de kwartaal baie beter resultate behaal as in die vorige drie kwartale.

Dit is ‘n inspirasie om te sien hoe die kinders in ons sorg hard probeer om hulleself te verbeter. Ons hoop om meer jongmense te help om hulle potensiaal te bereik.