Written by THAF Greater Kruger intern, Yorick Slaa
One of our major community projects at our Greater Kruger location is the afterschool homework assistance classes at the Seganyane Primary School in Acornhoek, Green Valley.
This week I had the great pleasure to talk to four Grade 4 learners about their experiences at the afterschool classes. When I started chatting with them they were still a bit out of breath because of the warming up they just attended. Every class always starts with a warm up during which the learners can relieve their built up energy after their long day in the classroom. This week the warm up was a game called “North East South West.” The learners start by forming a big group and have to listen to the command of the one leading the game. On the ground are marks for each direction, last one to arrive at the right direction is out of the game. But that’s not all, the one in command can also shout out any big five animals which the learners have to respond to by performing the action that belong to this animal, same principle, last one to perform the right action is out.
It’s easy to understand why the learners I spoke with where still out of breath. Nevertheless every single one of them absolutely enjoyed participating in that game. “It’s great that someone takes the time to play with us,” says Virginia, 9, who speaks English surprisingly well for a Grade 4 learner, especially if you take into consideration that Grade 4 is the first grade in which everything is taught in English, up until then everything is taught in their own language, Tsonga.
Virginia wishes that more time was spend learning English during her regular school hours. For someone her age, Virginia is surprisingly keen to study and do homework. She lives with her father and mother (something that is quite extraordinary in this region) but neither can help her with her homework. When Virginia grows up she wants to become a doctor because she wants to help other people and make them feel special just like she feels special by attending the afterschool classes.
“I also want to become a doctor.” says Confidence. She and Virginia have been best friends for as long as they can remember. “We grow up together.” says confidence. Later on she explains that her and Virginia are neighbours and that they live about an hour on foot away from their school. “We spend a lot of time together.” explains Virginia with a big smile on her face. Every afternoon they do their homework together for about twenty minutes at Virginia’s house. Confidence’s most favourite subject at school is Natural Science, which she hopes we will start helping out with, in the future.
For now our main focus is English homework assistance. Currently the level of English is not sufficient enough to start homework assistance in other courses.
Then there are the two boys, best friends as well. I asked Khutso, aged 9, if he likes the afterschool classes, to which he replied, “Yes, because it is so much fun.” His favourite subject is Natural Science, ‘because it’s so easy’ he tells me. Khutso belives the afterschool classes have made Natural Science even easier because he can now understand more from what the teacher is explaining. Khutso claims to only spend 3 minutes a day on homework, but that’s mainly because he doesn’t really know how to do homework, he later on admits.
The same applies to his best friend Kamogelo. Although luckily for him, he gets some help now and then from his older brother and sister. He loves to learn and that is why he likes the afterschool classes so much. Kamogelo’s favourite subject is Maths. “Whenever I listen to Maths being taught it makes me happy.” Furthermore he says that he thinks that the afterschool classes will help him achieve his dream of becoming a police officer. He seems aware of the fact that a certain level of English comprehension is required for police officers. When I ask for his motivation to become a police officer he responds, “Because I want to make Acornhoek a safer place”.
Speaking with these four wonderful learners reminds me of the importance of the afterschool classes. We are here to assist the learners in achieving their dreams and help them prepare for High School. But of course we can’t do this on our own, we depend on volunteers and donations.
Learn more about our Education Assistance program and how you can help.