A homework programme four afternoons a week for under-resourced children, helping them to understand and expand their knowledge in reading and numeracy, and life skills.
Each child receives a nutritional snack, piece of seasonal fruit, juice upon arrival. We feel this is very important because a hungry child cannot focus.
HELP assists children from Grades 1-7 and, depending on the grade and the need, between 8 and 25 children are selected by the relevant class teachers according to a criteria list compiled by HELP.
Each grade is assigned to a volunteer who assists by encouraging the pupils in reading, writing (English) and mathematics.
Every lesson is divided into English and Maths – we find that many of the children are really good at Maths but because they do not understand the English they are not sure what they are being asked and this penalises them heavily.
HELP gives care and attention to each child within the group and, if any situation seems out of sorts, reports this to specialists who can assist the child. A qualified teacher, Christelle Malan, is employed to plan and oversee all the extra lessons that HELP gives. HELP approaches each child with respect, care and love.
As a priority the children have the opportunity to complete any school homework they were given, in a safe and helpful environment. Once their school work has been completed, personal assistance is given to each child to encourage a positive work ethic using HELP work and activities which are both challenging and fun.
As well as the HELP Daily Programme, we provide children with the chance to join weekly special programmes, such as soccer club, drumming, art (including art history), and drama.
Neville Sherman, a retired principal from the UK who taught in Dubai, Ghana, Thailand, and Vietnam, has brought a phenomenal experience in his drumming classes: teaching the kids to get the beat! Neville also teaches the children art and acting – so a difficult year can be transformed into a year of fun when they come to the HELP classroom.
HELP has developed board and dice games to facilitate the children’s studying. They are designed to be grade and subject specific and make learning so much more fun.
HELP also organises cultural events and outings to give the children experiences they would never otherwise have – if and when funds permit. International visitors from different countries come to expand the children’s horizons. We also bring interesting speakers to talk to the children and give them a broader knowledge about, for example, South African history.
HELP believes, and has proved, that by giving children more individual attention and making the lessons as engaging as possible, the children’s marks and self-esteem improve dramatically.
Top (video): Learners at Big Fish when we first started HELP in Capricorn Primary, Vrygrond.
Middle: Students discovering a love for chess at Harmony Primary, currently the main base for HELP.
Bottom: Harmony Primary school soccer team run by HELP with coach Kerry-Anne Voster
In a hugely successful art project overseen by our volunteer Neville Sherman, students in both schools in HPS and TWSP explored the painting, ‘The Scream’ by Edvard Munch. They discussed what they think of the painting and what the artist may have been expressing when he painted it. From there they wrote about the things that made them ‘scream’ including personal things such as spiders or snakes. Then they wrote about what issues made them scream when thinking about South Africa or further afield in terms of global issues such as pollution, global warming, animal poaching and of course Covid. Following this, they then painted the image and used watercolor pencils to make their drawing and then added water to create their own piece of art work. To finish, many of the students ‘posed’ in the same way as the image to add a layer of fun. As you can see, some of their work is very imaginative and some writing, as you can read, is quite thoughtful. Please enjoy their work. Well done to all the students who tried hard on something that they did not find easy!
HELP requires a little over R500 000 per annum to see through our programmes and assist our almost 3,127 children with the Homework Enrichment Lifeskills Programme (HELP). Kindly consider donating and help shape the future of our children.
Every rand donated goes to providing books and stationery, food and supporting the enrichment of our children.
Address : 11 Oyster Bay, Capricorn, Muizenburg 7945, Western Cape, South Africa
Email : hope@help-eduprogramme.co.za
Contact Number : +27 063 656 9384
