Empower 450 Vulnerable Children & Families

Dear Supporter,

Thank you for your continued support to our project. As we reach the year end, we want to share with you today our renewed approach to better reach parents and better connect parents and teachers, which is key for the pupils’ well-being.

We have been working with parents for 7 years, as part of Parents’ Clubs where parents discover artistic activities, develop parenting skills and are initiated to communication tools that can be used at home to strengthen relationships with their children. They also discuss on their rights and responsibilities, as well as perspectives to be better involved in their children's education and develop activities for the school community.

We have noticed over the past months that we could better involve parents, not only as beneficiaries of the action, but also as actors. 

We will train small groups of parents in the vicinities where we intervene so that they can facilitate workshops with children, as TIPA’s team members. This approach will empower them, give them skills, but will also contribute to the sustainability of TIPA’s actions. Training sessions have already started with two mothers who learn about project management, art, workshop facilitation, TIPA pedagogical tools, etc.

Through our Impact Assessment sessions, we have also worked on the improvement of teachers-parents relationships. We will create more opportunities for parents and teachers to meet in the coming year, in a peaceful and supportive way, with a view to create bonds for the improvement of the pupils’ well-being and education.  

We thank you again for your support towards our project. We feel grateful to have the support of so many individuals behind us. It really makes a difference.

We wish you a beautiful end of year and happy holidays.

Links:

• TIPA's website
• TIPA's Facebook Page

Pedagogical tools

Pedagogical tools are at the heart of TIPA’s approach to make sure that children participate, engage and progress in all sessions. “Kart kouler” (self assessment cards) are the first tools used in creativity classes. In green, orange or red, they help the children to communicate easily with each other and with TIPA art facilitator and the teacher. Throughout the sessions, the children can use the cards as follows:

1. When the exercise is explained: have I understood what I am supposed to do? Do I want to do it? Have I listened to the explanations?
2. During the activity: do I manage to do what is expected from me? Do I concentrate?
3. After the activity: have I done my best? Am I proud of my work today?

This last part is used as a transition to another tool which was introduced in July, the “Karne Progre” (Progress Booklet). It aims to help the children reflect on their work, but also to express themselves and to communicate with teachers and art facilitators. This Karne Progre helps children to evaluate their progress throughout the year.

School events

Since the last report, two school events have been organised, where parents were invited to come and discover the works of their children through an art exhibition. A lunch was organized for each class so that teachers and parents could communicate on future collaborations regarding the children’s education. The first School Event took place at Vallijee Government School on Music Day and gathered 402 persons, among which 152 parents and 182 pupils. The second School Event took place just before the winter break at Pointe aux Sables Government School, with 212 participants among which 118 pupils and 55 parents.