Homework Clubs

During the course of 2008 and 2009 five homework clubs have been built and carefully monitored to assess their achievement in terms of improving the children’s ability to cope at school. The clubs are held twice a week from 4pm – 6pm. They are overseen by volunteer students from Eden campus and adult volunteers from George, Hoekwil and Touwsranten.

The area co-ordinator acts as a liaison between parents and the school since it became clear that many of the parents are illiterate, had bad experiences at school themselves and were thus unable and unwilling to engage with the schools about their children’s’ achievements and problems.

Although the initial plan was to establish only three homework clubs (two farm-based and one in Touwsranten) – two additional homework clubs in Touwsranten developed organically for younger children. In addition, a volunteer from Hoekwil offers a Wednesday afternoon extra maths class for primary school children.

The children are provided with a light meal at the homework clubs – on the farms these meals are subsidised by the farmers and prepared by farm workers, in Touwsranten the municipal soup kitchen provides the children with soup or sandwiches.

Records are kept of attendance at homework classes and of the children’s school results in order to be able to monitor changes in attendance and performance at school. The Initiative has a partnership with the Institute for Security Studies which conducts on-going monitoring and evaluation. An evaluation report will be available shortly for the period July 2008 – July 2009.

At the time of writing the homework classes were regularly attended by 64 children.

Sport

The Seven Passes Initiative has responded to the need for positive activities for children in the area by establishing on-going sports development. This not only provides a chance for those children who are not academically strong to have a positive outlet, but also provides an opportunity to engage parents.

Soccer

A football club for young farm labourers was established in January 2008. The teams plays regular matches. In 2009 a junior soccer team was established in Touwsranten and trains once a week in Hoekwil.

Sailing

During 2008 and 2009 the Garden Route Lakes Yacht Club provided sailing lessons to children from Seven Passes. This will continue and expand during 2010.

Read more about it HERE

Netball

Netball teams have been established and are managed by Rosaline Grootboom, a member of the Seven Passes Committee.

Self-defence classes for girls

A self-defence and fitness class is being offered for girls from the age of 10 in Touwsranten. The purpose of the class is to build confidence, fitness, strength and assertiveness, as well as to provide girls with the skills to defence themselves against aggression.

Positive Futures.

During 2008 and 2009 a local insurance broker – Indwe Risk Services, provided a weekly programme of activities for high school learners, that involves job shadowing and exposure to the business sector. This has been particularly valuable for those children who have accountancy and business management as subjects at school and who wish to pursue a career in business.

Computer training and availability.

Very few of the children in the area that come from disadvantaged backgrounds have access to computers or the Internet. Yet the current school curriculum requires children to use the Internet to successfully complete their assignments. In 2009 the Initiative received funding from the Christian Development Trust to establish a computer centre. In September 2009 we partnered with the Touwsranten school and now provide a part-time staff member to assist students of the school, members of the community and members of the homework clubs to utilise the computer facilities.