By Jenny Taylor | Chairperson - Edu Fun
Edu Fun’s Mission: Enhancing English Literacy in South Africa
At Edu Fun, our mission is to improve English literacy among young learners. We teach students in grades 2 and 3 at Diepsloot Combined School (DCS) in the informal settlement of Diepsloot, South Africa, as well as in other rural and township communities.
Empowering Youth to Transform Lives
Our ultimate goal in Diepsloot is to empower 70 local youth to teach 3,000 children to read across seven primary schools. This initiative requires a minimum of 10 youth placed at each school in Diepsloot. By ensuring that every Grade 2 and 3 learner has access to Phono-Graphix reading lessons in Diepsloot, we improve the chances of all learners reading with meaning by the time they are in Grade 4. We aim to build a strong foundation for future learning, uplift the entire community, and increase the likelihood of these children completing their education.
Successes in 2024
Our 2024 literacy programme, predominantly run by local youth from Diepsloot, concluded on a high note. Six Junior Tutors received a Phono-Graphix Tutor Certification, and two received their International Phono-Graphix Reading Therapy Certification.
Grade 3 learners, who will enter Grade 4 in 2025, achieved an average score of 91% on the reading assessment this year. Our tutors participated in the assessment and evaluation process, assisting with data capturing and learned about the importance of measurable data when reporting to schools and funders.
Collaborations and Community Impact
We have worked with another local school - Diepsloot Primary School 4 and we have partnered with Afrika Tikkun, another local charity, allowing our tutors to volunteer at a nearby centre. Afrika Tikkun tutors have also shadowed our tutors and programme at Diepsloot Combined, which has become a centre of excellence for training where best practices are shared to be replicated in other organisations and communities.
Additionally, two of our tutors had the opportunity to visit Cape Town for the first time.
Tutor Testimonial:
Bontle, a Junior Tutor, shares her experience: “The Edu Fun program has opened many doors for me since I started in February. From visiting different schools, meeting new people, and discovering new projects, the highlight was our collaboration with Read for Africa, which took me to Cape Town. Every Thursday, we teach learners at Afrika Tikkun in Diepsloot how to read. Visiting the Afrika Tikkun branch in Cape Town, we helped facilitators understand Phono-Graphix better, assessed learners, and taught classes while being observed. Thanks to the Edu Fun tutor program, we can reach and help many children read.”
Supporting Our Future Educators
We currently have six tutors pursuing a Bachelor of Education while continuing to tutor learners. They are at different stages of their courses, with two tutors completing their first semester in their first year who are preparing for their 3-week teaching experience schedled for February/March 2025 and three tutors have finishied their second year. One tutor is due to start her degree in February 2025 if we can raise enough funds to cover her tuition.
Looking Ahead: Expanding Our Impact
For every new tutor enrolled in our program, 30 to 40 children will be able to participate and learn to read weekly. Our biggest expense is the monthly stipend for our local youth, covering their basic living expenses and, in some cases, their tuition to pursue a career in education.
Wish List for 2025
Sponsor a child to learn to read in 2025
Fee per child per year: $50
Sponsor a local youth to attend a Phono-Graphix Course
Course fee & certification: $300 (one-time payment)
Provide a scholarship for a Phono-Graphix Tutor to pursue a teaching career while continuing to teach at Diepsloot Combined School
Annual tuition fees: $1,000 per annum
Provide the above scholarship and a year's allowance for the tutor to earn a living while studying and teaching 40 children in their local community
Annual fees including the monthly stipend for 12 months: $3,800 per annum
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