NEWS, VIEWS & OTHER INTERESTING THINGS

We are delighted to introduce you to our new Literacy Tutors for 2018! These young men and women have embarked on a year-long journey that will not only equip them personally and professionally, but will also see them impact their communities by providing one-on-one reading support to learners at disadvantaged, overcrowded schools.

 The Literacy Tutor Programme kicked off with training ahead of the start of one-on-one reading sessions, which will begin this month. The Tutors have also begun planning for their first after-school Reading Clubs, as well as Holiday Reading Clubs that will take place in the April school holidays.

This year, our Literacy Tutor Programme in Johannesburg will see exciting growth as we expand the programme to a new area, Diepsloot, and serve more schools in Alexandra township. We welcome the new schools that have joined the programme, Diepsloot Primary 4 in Diepsloot and F C Carter Primary School in Alexandra. Forty-seven Literacy Tutors have enrolled in the programme in Johannesburg, and together we will assist 564 learners in Johannesburg this year.

Welcome to our new Johannesburg Literacy Tutors!

Meanwhile, in the Western Cape our Literacy Tutor Programme has expanded to seven schools in Wellington, Mbekweni, Wemmershoek, Franschhoek and Khayelitsha, with 86 new Literacy Tutors enrolled. We welcome two new schools in the Franschhoek Valley, Groendal Primary and Wes-End Primary, as well as Pauw-Gedenk Primary in Wellington.

Both groups of Literacy Tutors in the Western Cape and Gauteng are filled with dynamic community leaders, each with a unique understanding of the needs in their communities and proven interest to see it thrive.

For many of the new recruits, the Literacy Tutor Programme brings them one step closer to pursuing their dreams of becoming teachers and provides them with practical, hands-on experience of working with children. One such recruit is Babalwa Qundini, a Literacy Tutor at Mbekweni Primary in Paarl. “I always wanted to be a teacher but my parents never had the funds to support my studies”, she explained. “I can’t wait to start and give all I have this year. help2read is giving me a great opportunity to experience my love of working with children and learn new skills.”

Similarly, Literacy Tutor Brenda Nematandani at Diepsloot Primary echoed Babalwa’s sentiments. “I joined help2Read because it connects me to my dream job, which is teaching foundation phase children”, she said. “I think it will open more doors for me and help me learn to connect with children.”

We are also thrilled to see the growth and development of our past Literacy Tutors, who have stepped up to the challenge to serve as Senior Literacy Tutors and Team Leaders at each school in the Western Cape and Gauteng. Not only will they be leading a team of new recruits at their respective schools, they will also be participating in further training to grow their skills, including the After-School Practitioners Training Programme at Stellenbosch University.

As a new Team Leader at Van Wyks Vlei Primary, Lehcrin Pietersen is excited about the opportunity to grow even more this year and step closer to her dream of becoming a teacher. “Working in a group and with the children made me realise that there is more to life or circumstances than just to think of yourself”, said Lehcrin. “I want to become a teacher, even if I have to study part-time because I want to work with children so that they can have a literate future.”

New Literacy Tutors in training ahead of the start of reading sessions with learners

For each of our Literacy Tutors and Team Leaders, we’re certain that this year holds many life-changing experiences. We can’t wait to witness the magical moments that will develop between learners and tutors, and how each of our tutors will grow over the course of the year.