Many children struggle to rise above their dire circumstances and attend school with an appetite and attitude for learning. The drop out of children from school at a young age has a huge impact on the community, especially on the crime levels.
This year (2009) we launched an After School Programme at Du Noon Primary School. The programme runs three times a week and the aim is to stress our commitment to quality education and the empowerment of young minds, which we believe, will in turn empower the rest of the community in its fight against poverty and crime.
Stressful home situations, children with learning disabilities and lack of external educational support make it difficult for children to be innovative and to rise above their circumstances.
Children who are reached through the after school programme are referred to as 'children at risk'. These children can be children who come from abusive environments, children coming from child-headed homes where both parents passed away because of HIV/AIDS or children experiencing learning problems because their parents return late in the evening from work and sometimes are illiterate themselves.
The Afterschool Program aims to:
- help learners with school homework
- help improve numeracy and literacy skills through educational games
- help improve life skills through relevant educational programs and mentoring
- help stimulate the mind through physical activities
- help improve creativity through art
- develop role models and leaders
- work towards an end result of a well balanced, happy individual that is successful in his/her environment
OUR CURRENT NEEDS FOR THE AFTER SCHOOL PROGRAMME
Funding: We currently provide food to approximately 90 children during the program, sustain a vegetable garden and hope to establish a garden/play area on the school grounds;
Educational Resources: Reading books for Gr. 4 - Gr. 7 children, magazines, art supplies, posters, games (playing cards, dominoes, snakes and ladders etc.), plastic waste ect.;
Stationery: Writing Pads, Pencils, Crayons, Pens, Erasers, Staples, Files;
Old Office Furniture and garden tools: For storage of educational materials and beautification of school grounds.
