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WILD COAST COMMUNITY SCHOOLS - Teaching in Rural Schools in Africa
The primary focus of VA32 involves developing computer literacy skills within the classroom. Volunteers work under the guidance of highly qualified project facilitators to teach daily lessons. Beyond our ICT input in the schools, VA32 runs weekly art clubs, afternoon sports training and community-based development initiatives.
Computer Literacy Skills Development:
The VA32 objectives are to:
1. Equip rural and peri-urban schools with networked computer labs (a multi-phase project)
2. Continued development of appropriate teaching aids and support structures for both teachers and learners
3. Teach basic computer skills in a classroom environment.
4. Deliver “teaching excellence” through leading by example in under resourced schools.
5. Constantly improve learning environments in our partner schools.
The peri-urban and rural schools of South Africa have found themselves in the restrictive scenario of “equal education” policies in a country consisting of vastly different levels of development. One of the major areas to be overlooked is that relating to the provision and teaching of the technology fields within the education system in Africa.
Computer Literacy, considered in today’s developed societies as a basic human right, is only in its infancy in the Wild Coast region. In the few schools that have electricity, very few have computers, and those that have computers have been left to develop in a vacuum with inappropriate and non-existent support structures for the maximising of the resource potential they have. VA32 is committed to sourcing schools with computers and putting into place the necessary training and continued support for these schools to allow them to produce competitive learners for the demanding technological world of adulthood.
Teaching in Africa is a challenging and exciting arena. VA32 is appealing to the international volunteer community for their support, through appropriate skill provision, for the attainment of the above targets.
As a volunteer teacher you only need basic computer literacy skills, a lot of energy, enthusiasm and a free spirit of sharing. Our strong and professional team of facilitators ensure that you are well supported, guided and mentored to be of optimal value to the learners.
VA32 currently works with six rural schools. It manages four labs, 150 computers & is teaching over 1000 African learners from pre-school to high school. Computer literacy is closely linked to Environmental Education through our innovative & structured teaching modules.
Interactive Sport’s Development:
The VA32 sport’s initiative is an exciting drive to introduce and develop on-going growth and appreciation in the sporting arena in socio-economically challenged areas of the Wild Coast. For the most part, schools lack the resources and the capacity to provide effective sports opportunities for their learners.
It is into this void that the VA32 team employ their energy, enthusiasm and skill.
The program strives towards creating a formal sporting framework where new sport’s disciplines, teamwork and the understanding of sport etiquette are developed. Sport is able to teach not only a healthy lifestyle but also develop necessary social skills and peer understanding that is essential to the stability and well being of society, in a country such as South Africa.
Environmental Education and Aesthetic Upliftment of schools
VA32 has become increasingly involved in environmental aspects of the schools. Volunteer presence in the area has allowed VA32 to partner with the WWF/WESSA Eco-schools programme by providing booster support to existing environmental projects under the guidance of the Eco-schools team. This partnership is to continue into the future and will involve supporting a range of targets from Marine and Coastal Education, Water and Sanitation and Vegetable gardens to general aesthetic improvements and playground development.
Volunteer Profile:
A minimum age of 18 applies for all VA32 placements. The computer literacy placements will require appropriate computer skills. It would be of benefit for the volunteer to have a background in education or teaching to allow the maximum impact to the project objectives although more importantly, they must have a lot of energy and enthusiasm to put into teaching in Africa. Volunteers are asked to commit to a minimum placement of 4 weeks on the schools project to allow a sense of security for the learners and facilitate the building of productive relationships. There is no maximum time: the longer you stay, the stronger you become.
Orientation:
Orientation is designed to provide a fun and insightful experience to introduce our organisation, projects and the beautiful area of Chintsa to our volunteers:
Day 1: On arrival in Chintsa, volunteers will be introduced to the VA32 team & will have time to settle into the volunteer house before being taken on a tour of the schools.
Day 2: Volunteers will spend a day in their new school, shadowing one of our current volunteers & learning the ropes! There will be a trouble shooting meeting in the afternoon with our onsite co-ordinators.
Day 3: Volunteers will start their first full day on project.
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