“Change for Children” at
Students and staff at
MMW’s student council members helped organize the book drive and change collection after learning more about the struggles children face in
Wednesday, May 19, 2010
Fundraising Efforts
Friday, January 15, 2010
A Happy and Healthy New Year to All
Among our goals for 2010, the Board of Miss Vicky's Children's Education Fund hopes to fund the airfare for a teacher to visit Khayelitsha for the summer, following the success of Tanya's 2009 summer experience. We also hope to raise additional funds for school supplies and clothing.
The children of Khayelitsha live below the poverty level—many have never worn new clothes or undergarments. Every new school year, each student receives one pen or pencil, which is expected to last the academic year. The limited paper supply dictates the amount of notes a teacher can give to her class in a day.
These children live in shacks with limited access to electricity and running water. The government does not provide an adequate learning environment, school supplies, or current teaching materials. Unless these children are granted the opportunity to obtain a decent education, the poverty cycle of Khayelitsha will continue.
Please help by donating any amount you can. Even $5 makes a big difference and the donation is tax deductible.
The teachers at Council Rock's Welch Elementary and Richboro Middle Schools hold dress-down days to help with shipping costs. The parents at Childtowne Montessori Pre-School donated books, school bags and underwear. Any little bit helps.
This is an opportunity to impact some of the nearly 250,000 lives in Khayelitsha and alleviate the poverty in one South African community.
Donations can be sent to:
Miss Vicky's Children's Education Fund
c/o Debra Marra
411 Foxcroft Drive
Ivyland, PA 18974-1671
In advance, we so appreciate your financial help.
Tax ID: 26-4214949
The children of Khayelitsha live below the poverty level—many have never worn new clothes or undergarments. Every new school year, each student receives one pen or pencil, which is expected to last the academic year. The limited paper supply dictates the amount of notes a teacher can give to her class in a day.
These children live in shacks with limited access to electricity and running water. The government does not provide an adequate learning environment, school supplies, or current teaching materials. Unless these children are granted the opportunity to obtain a decent education, the poverty cycle of Khayelitsha will continue.
Please help by donating any amount you can. Even $5 makes a big difference and the donation is tax deductible.
The teachers at Council Rock's Welch Elementary and Richboro Middle Schools hold dress-down days to help with shipping costs. The parents at Childtowne Montessori Pre-School donated books, school bags and underwear. Any little bit helps.
This is an opportunity to impact some of the nearly 250,000 lives in Khayelitsha and alleviate the poverty in one South African community.
Donations can be sent to:
Miss Vicky's Children's Education Fund
c/o Debra Marra
411 Foxcroft Drive
Ivyland, PA 18974-1671
In advance, we so appreciate your financial help.
Tax ID: 26-4214949
Saturday, August 8, 2009
Journey back to PA
My journey back to the states will begin on Wednesday morning when I fly to Jo'berg at 6 am. I leave the following day in the PM to fly to Atlanta and from there to Philly. I am scheduled to arrive in Philly Friday at 11 am.
Summing up my trip
I'm sad to say that my last teaching day was yesterday. It was going to be on Monday, but I found out that there is a national holiday here, Women's Day, so there is no school. On Tuesday, Vicky has something planned for me and I'm not sure what that is. She says it's a surprise!
The teachers and students were all so wonderful during my teaching time. The kids were trying there best to speak English and I was helping them every day with their communication skills. The teachers had so many questions about what we do in the states and I would continuously give "mini" workshops to them sharing information about how our teachers plan their lessons, manage the classroom, and assess the students. Everyone at the school was very appreciative and thankful. Additionally, I've collected many letters and drawings from students at Vuzamanzi Primary School and will share these with students back home. I'm very excited to make a connection between the students.
It also appears that there will be a room at the school that will be dedicated to a school library! There is a small room off of the computer lab that will be turned into a library. They will start putting in shelves as they can. This room is the most secure since it's next to the lab and hopefully no one will be able to break in and take the books. The first shipment of books also arrived when I did! It was really cool to pick them up at the post office and take them to the school. So, the library is underway!
During my stay at Vicky's B & B, I've met so many incredible people from around the world. They were all quite interested in the foundation and I told them all about it. I think we may have some new donors! I also realized that we'll need to make a pamphlet or brochure or business cards with the foundation information. Everyone wanted the information so I just wrote it down for them. A few journalists from the UK were there one night having dinner and may be in touch to do a story about the foundation.
Vicky has also arranged for the local press to interview me before I leave regarding my experience. Hopefully I'll be able to get a copy of the paper to bring back home.
Overall, I've had just the best experience. I've also become much more educated about the struggles of Khayelitsha. It's a place to visit not to see the poverty, but to learn about the culture and daily lives of the people who live there. Education seems to be the key and the pass the children will need to make a better life for themselves.
The teachers and students were all so wonderful during my teaching time. The kids were trying there best to speak English and I was helping them every day with their communication skills. The teachers had so many questions about what we do in the states and I would continuously give "mini" workshops to them sharing information about how our teachers plan their lessons, manage the classroom, and assess the students. Everyone at the school was very appreciative and thankful. Additionally, I've collected many letters and drawings from students at Vuzamanzi Primary School and will share these with students back home. I'm very excited to make a connection between the students.
It also appears that there will be a room at the school that will be dedicated to a school library! There is a small room off of the computer lab that will be turned into a library. They will start putting in shelves as they can. This room is the most secure since it's next to the lab and hopefully no one will be able to break in and take the books. The first shipment of books also arrived when I did! It was really cool to pick them up at the post office and take them to the school. So, the library is underway!
During my stay at Vicky's B & B, I've met so many incredible people from around the world. They were all quite interested in the foundation and I told them all about it. I think we may have some new donors! I also realized that we'll need to make a pamphlet or brochure or business cards with the foundation information. Everyone wanted the information so I just wrote it down for them. A few journalists from the UK were there one night having dinner and may be in touch to do a story about the foundation.
Vicky has also arranged for the local press to interview me before I leave regarding my experience. Hopefully I'll be able to get a copy of the paper to bring back home.
Overall, I've had just the best experience. I've also become much more educated about the struggles of Khayelitsha. It's a place to visit not to see the poverty, but to learn about the culture and daily lives of the people who live there. Education seems to be the key and the pass the children will need to make a better life for themselves.
Saturday, August 1, 2009
Living in the township
Working with the children has been great so far! My life in the township has also been a very wonderful experience. Vicky and her family are so gracious and kind and have made me feel welcome from the beginning. I didn't know exactly what to expect and when I first arrived in the township, I was taken back by all of the shacks. Despite the poverty stricken area, I have learned the people are kind hearted and very community oriented. They share their time with each other as family, friends, and neighbors.
I have been treated quite nicely and people are curious about what I'm doing. When they find out that I'm working in the school, they are truly grateful and thank me. I do not feel unsafe and have gone on many walking tours around the township. The conditions vary. Some people have water and electricity while others do not. Many do not have bathrooms or plumbing. It's hard to imagine how a child can focus on education when their basic needs are barely met.
Despite the hardships, individuals seem to be happy. They laugh, sing, dance, spend time together and make the best of what they do have. There are local shops and craft markets and a lot of people travel to the city for work. I really feel as though I'm learning more about their culture and history and feel blessed to have such a warm environment to stay while I'm here. Vicky's children are adorable and I help tutor the younger ones at night. I feel like I'm part of their family. Life in the township has been quite positive so far!
I have been treated quite nicely and people are curious about what I'm doing. When they find out that I'm working in the school, they are truly grateful and thank me. I do not feel unsafe and have gone on many walking tours around the township. The conditions vary. Some people have water and electricity while others do not. Many do not have bathrooms or plumbing. It's hard to imagine how a child can focus on education when their basic needs are barely met.
Despite the hardships, individuals seem to be happy. They laugh, sing, dance, spend time together and make the best of what they do have. There are local shops and craft markets and a lot of people travel to the city for work. I really feel as though I'm learning more about their culture and history and feel blessed to have such a warm environment to stay while I'm here. Vicky's children are adorable and I help tutor the younger ones at night. I feel like I'm part of their family. Life in the township has been quite positive so far!
Wednesday, July 29, 2009
School update
I've been working in Vuzamanzi Primary School now for several days. I have managed to teach in all sections of grades 4-7 (they have 4 or 5 sections in each grade level). The Principal felt that I could serve them best by rotating each day throughout their English classes. I'm not working with one class, but rather all of the English classes in 4th-7th grades. The school does not begin to teach English until 4th grade so the children have a very difficult time communicating with me. Grades 1-3 are taught in their mother language, Xhosa.
My main goals are helping them with their fluency and also vocabulary. They don't recognize a lot of words, so I clarify the words for them and then explain their meaning. Unfortunately, the kids don't have much paper to write on or pencils to use, so the information i'm teaching is not written down. The children are quite curious though and try their best to talk to me in English. I am learning a bit of Xhosa as well, which they get a kick out of!
The school day begins at 8 a.m. and ends at 2 p.m. for the children. They have 4 classes before their first break, then 3 classes before their second break (lunch), and they finish with 2 classes. Each class is 30 minutes long and the pace is very slow compared to what i'm used to. Today, I shared the letters that my RES kids wrote with the 7th graders. They really enjoyed reading the letters! They are now working on writing letters back to the RES kids.
I should be able to get into each grade 1-2 more times before I leave and will hopefully be able to post another blog at the end of this week.
My main goals are helping them with their fluency and also vocabulary. They don't recognize a lot of words, so I clarify the words for them and then explain their meaning. Unfortunately, the kids don't have much paper to write on or pencils to use, so the information i'm teaching is not written down. The children are quite curious though and try their best to talk to me in English. I am learning a bit of Xhosa as well, which they get a kick out of!
The school day begins at 8 a.m. and ends at 2 p.m. for the children. They have 4 classes before their first break, then 3 classes before their second break (lunch), and they finish with 2 classes. Each class is 30 minutes long and the pace is very slow compared to what i'm used to. Today, I shared the letters that my RES kids wrote with the 7th graders. They really enjoyed reading the letters! They are now working on writing letters back to the RES kids.
I should be able to get into each grade 1-2 more times before I leave and will hopefully be able to post another blog at the end of this week.
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