Exciting news!
With the growth of the program, we have realized that it would be useful to have a larger facility and have relocated the program to the Vredesaal. We were kindly donated a Solar system, complete with panels, batteries and an inverter, by Dave Brinkley, a member of the Vermaaklikheid Community. This has enabled us to do the move as we now have power in the saal for the wifi router and laptops. It is a much larger space which will allow for a reading corner, sufficient tables for homework, more privacy for the older learners for their online lessons, and a table for games such as chess. The Vredesaal is also much closer to Skoolkop. This is a big bonus as the bus drops the learners at the bus stop and they will no longer need to walk along the main road. Their safety in this respect has been an ongoing concern.
We have been donated a gas stove by Dave Marshall, also a member of Vermaaklikheid Community. We currently use this for the learners’ meals. In the future we would like to open a Soup Kitchen in the Vredesaal. This could hopefully be run by people in the Community.
As we draw towards the end of the year, we thought we would share with you what has been happening in our program this year.
Firstly, to recap, our Goals for 2025 are:
- To help our Grade 11s successfully complete their matric in 2026:
If our current Grade 11 learners pass their matric, they will be the first successful Vermaaklikheid matriculants in the last 7 years. In order to achieve this they require a great deal of academic support. We highlighted 2 main areas where we can assist them:
- Supply them with The Answer Series Study guides in each subject. This series provides learners with up-to-date, comprehensive study guides for all major subjects from Grade 7 to 12.
- Hire online an on-site tutors to provide the learners with extra lessons in their weaker subjects.
- To continue the supervised after-school sessions three times a week. These sessions have proven to be a popular and valuable resource, particularly for younger learners.
- Holiday Programs & Workshops during school breaks.
- Professional emotional support for vulnerable children in the community.
We have become increasingly aware of the large number of children in this impoverished community who experience trauma on a regular basis. This has a profound impact on their behaviour, their emotional wellbeing and their ability to learn and study.
We are happy to report that we are seeing some positive progress in all these areas.
- Our Grade 11’s have now got access to the Answer Series study modules, and with the assistance of an online tutor once a week they are working through their Math’s Literacy syllabus. They are certainly feeling the benefit thus far. We hope to be able to do the same in some of their other subjects.
- Our afternoon sessions continue with the help of our two loyal facilitators, Amelia and Anneline. The number of kids has grown and the learners are benefitting from this safe, structured environment. They receive a sandwich and a hot drink when they arrive in the afternoons and certainly do enjoy that!
- The learners have participated in holiday programs during each holiday. The Magpie Art Collective offered a course where the children once again made flowers and decorations from recycled plastic bottles. You might have seen their art on the poles, blowing in the breeze at the entrance to the Community Centre. Anneline also offers holiday programs in the library where the children partake in fun activities.
- We are investigating all options regarding social and emotional support for the learners. This remains an ongoing challenge. Thus far we have not obtain much support from Social Welfare. Private counselling and intervention is extremely costly, hence we are continuing to pursue the state Welfare services for now.
Once again we would like to thank all the members who continue to generously support our Vermaakverbeter Afterschool Program.
We welcome all contributions to the program. If you are able to, please add a reference of ‘VV’ & your name so that we know that it’s for this project. The banking details are as follows:
Banking details: FNB Savings 63135912631
If you would like to know more, please contact us via email vermaakverbeter@gmail.com or
WhatsApp: 0797022689 or 0834194467.
Best Regards
Amelia, Anneline, Hilary and Josie
