Education Programmes for Kids &Teachers, Cape Town

Having been able to spend time at ORT SA CAPE during my time in South Africa recently, I am able to give a personal update on how much of a difference you are making to the children at their programmes! I am truly grateful to each person who has been sponsoring the science and robotics workshops run by ORT SA CAPE.

Karen at ORT SA CAPE invited me to join her on a visit to Pinocchio Creche. Helen, who runs the creche, had reached out to ORT SA CAPE, and it looks like a promising new partnership. The creche caters to 70 children between two and six years old. It is located in Green Point and is attended mostly by the children of domestic workers. Helen's mother, Maggie Oewies-Shongwe, founded the creche. Having worked as a domestic worker from the age of nine herself, she was acutely aware of the inequality and disparities experienced by non-white labourers in South Africa. She went on to start a service addressing these workers' needs for a safe, nurturing and developmental environment for their children.

As an exciting development, CHW may help to sponsor ORT SA CAPE's activities with Pinocchio Creche and we may also form our own direct partnership with the creche too, which would allow CHW's supporters to help with other needs there. Helen and her team do amazing work and it would be wonderful to get involved.

On Mandela Day (18 July), Karen and the team from ORT SA CAPE invited me to join them again, as they ran a programme, and also made donations of food and educational materials, to the creche. Karen led Lego 6 Bricks activities with the children. It was wonderful to see this in person, after receiving updates from ORT SA CAPE on the workshops that CHW's supporters had previously sponsored! The activities allowed the children to explore colours and to build towers in different ways, both individually and in groups, and it was great to see their enthusiasm and engagement. Four children sat at each table. I helped at one of the tables, and one of the boys, Yolo, aged 5, was the fastest out of the whole creche to build towers and make the correct colour sequences. He quickly helped the others on his table during group activities. As well as doing activities directly with the children, ORT SA CAPE is planning to carry out teacher training at the creche too. 

Karen said, "ORT SA CAPE is looking forward to our budding relationship with Pinocchio creche and CHW. After our successful Mandela Day programme, we are confident that Helen and her staff will embrace the training and support we are offering. This will make a measurable difference in the lives of these special children."

GlobalGiving is holding a Youth Week Campaign starting at 2pm (UK time) on 7 August and ending on 12 August. Whilst matching funds last, donations of up to $250 will be matched. If 20 people support our project for ORT SA CAPE, and between us, we raise $2000, further bonus cash prizes will be made available by GlobalGiving. If you would like to support the children helped by ORT SA CAPE, this would be the perfect time to do so, as your help will go extra far during that week!

A huge thank you to each person who is supporting ORT SA CAPE's work. Your help is making a real difference to disadvantaged children in Cape Town.

Thank you very much for helping disadvantaged children with their science education by supporting robotics workshops run by ORT SA CAPE in South Africa. A recent workshop was sponsored by a lady (who wishes to remain anonymous) who found out about this project through GlobalGiving. We are very grateful for this.

The workshop was given to thirty children, aged between four and eight, from Rooikappie Pre-School Centre. CHW has been working with Rooikappie via another of our partner organisations in Cape Town, the Future Factory, and we are delighted to have been able to link them with ORT SA CAPE. This is the second time a group of children from Rooikappie attended a science and robotics workshop.

Janet from ORT SA CAPE gave the following update from the workshop:

"The workshop started with Lego 6 Bricks activities. 6 Bricks is a cost-effective way to get age-appropriate sized manipulatives into the hands of young children to develop their sensory, physical and social skills. The concept explores fun, lively, engaging, challenging and playful ways that direct children to develop the basic critical skills they need to have mastered before the formal teaching of reading, writing and mathematics begins.

The children spent some time playing with Lego’s Charity Boxes, enjoyed lunch and visited the Cape Town Science Centre for an educational visit, science and puppet show."

One little boy, Shameeg aged 5, from the Cape Flats, a very disadvantaged area in Retreat, proudly showed off his lego creation and said "I made a bus to go to school with my friends." A little girl, Zeenat, also aged five, from the Cape Flats in Ottery, really enjoyed the activities with the lego and was guided by one of ORT SA CAPE's senior robotics facilitators whilst playing with the Lego Charity Boxes.

Faranaaz, the Principal of Rooikappie, wrote, "Thank you Children's Helpers Worldwide, ORT SA CAPE and GlobalGiving, for making it possible for us, Rooikappie Pre-School, to visit the Science Centre for a wonderful, fun learning experience. The children and staff enjoyed every moment."

We are grateful to the lady who sponsored this workshop and to each person who has contributed towards this project, to allow the continued sponsorship of workshops for children from very disadvantaged parts of Cape Town. Thank you for giving them the chance to learn about science and robotics. Without you, they would not have had this opportunity. Your kindness and generosity is very much appreciated and is making a big difference.