Every weekday afternoon the Usapho Indlu Education Centre is a hive of activity. And those activities are paying dividends.
Not only can four special learners now pass with their own efforts but one matric student is top of the grade 12 class at her high school. This is just a glimpse of the fruit being born in the lives of the 40 children – ranging in age from 7 to 19 – from the Usapho Indlu households who make use of the Education Centre.
Nezzy, Siphokazi and Veronica provide a welcoming and encouraging study environment where they assist learners with English, Maths and various life skills. The ladies also do Bible study with the children, provide a meal, play games, teach beadwork and attend to other needs such as providing toiletries. Nezzy adds that “we teach them manners and principles how to conduct themselves and also we teach them and direct them into God so that they take that into their families.”
Specialised educational help, a much needed blessing, has been provided by Lynne from the Gift School. She has assisted the special learners with phonics, vowels, pronunciation, writing and creating sentences. This has been invaluable to enable these learners to better understand language, which also improves Maths marks, thus enabling them to pass their grade.
When asked about their main challenges, it is ‘time’. Learners have to walk to and from school, which is located far from their neighbourhood, which means they have limited time to study by the time they get to the Education Centre in the afternoons.
Yet the success of the Education Centre remains an encouragement to everyone involved especially when they consider “the way the children’s education has improved“ says Nezzy. This can be seen in this year’s results and also in the fruit of last year’s. The three learners who passed matric (one learner obtaining a distinction) were referred to, and accepted into the Year Beyond program (see YeBo to change). This has meant access to mentorship and possible work opportunities in the future.
We wish all our busy learner bees all the best for the last few months of school.
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