Scholars From The Streets:The Learning Hub Project

What Happened This Quarter

Investing in the Space: Washroom and Play Area Renovations

In April, the Learning Hub underwent renovations to its washrooms and play space. A safe space must actually be safe — and dignified. Clean, functional washrooms and a well-maintained play area are not luxuries; they are part of the quality, nurturing environment SCEF is committed to providing every child who walks through the Hub’s doors.

• Washrooms were renovated to improve hygiene, privacy, and dignity for the children.
• The play space was upgraded to give children a safer, more inviting environment for recreation and group activities.
• The Hub was closed for approximately one month to allow the works to be completed properly — a difficult but necessary trade-off, discussed further under Challenges.

SCEF Reads with Joanna and Moritz

Following the renovations, the Hub reopened with the resumption of SCEF Reads, led by Joanna and Moritz. Across the quarter, 27 SCEF Reads sessions brought children together around stories read aloud, followed by guided discussion — rekindling the reading culture at the heart of SCEF’s mission and signalling to the community that the Hub was back, better than before.

New This Quarter: Educational Movie Sessions

A notable addition to the Learning Hub’s programming this quarter was the introduction of educational movie sessions. Held weekly to bi-monthly, these sessions use storytelling and visual learning to spark facilitated discussions around life skills, values, and decision-making. Film is a powerful entry point for children who may struggle with — or feel excluded by — text-heavy formats: every child can watch, reflect, and contribute. Early sessions have shown encouraging engagement, with children connecting on-screen choices and consequences to situations in their own lives.

Arts and Crafts: Bracelet Making

The Hub’s arts and crafts programme continued, with the team guiding children through the fun, hands-on process of creating their own bracelets. Beyond the joy of making something of their own, activities like these build fine motor skills, concentration, patience, and pride in finished work — and the bracelets themselves became small, wearable reminders of what children can create with their own hands.

Attendance and Participation

Attendance this quarter fluctuated, shaped by the month-long renovation closure in April, school schedules, family responsibilities, and the onset of the rainy season. Even so, 125 children actively engaged with the Hub, and the team delivered over 100 sessions across reading, film, and crafts — a remarkable density of programming for a quarter that began with a month-long closure, and clear evidence of the Hub’s standing as a stable, trusted space that children and families choose, again and again.

A Story from the Field

In the afternoon, the Hub reopened, and the team noticed something small but telling. Before any activity had even been announced, a group of children who had been waiting outside went straight to inspect the renovated washrooms and the new play space — then came back grinning, as if the upgrade had been done for each of them personally. In a sense, it had.

Later that quarter, during one of the new movie sessions, the facilitator paused the film at a moment where a character faced a hard choice. Hands shot up around the room. Children who rarely spoke during reading sessions were suddenly debating what they would do, what was right, and why. One boy summed up the scene in a single sentence that has stayed with the team: he said the character should think about who would be hurt before deciding. That — a child reasoning carefully about consequences and other people — is exactly the kind of growth the Learning Hub exists to nurture, and exactly what your support makes possible.

Challenges and Lessons Learned

• Renovation closure: the renovation works required the Hub (including the library) to close for approximately one month in April, which reduced attendance and disrupted the routine of many regular attendees. The lesson for future work is to phase renovations where possible, or run light off-site activities to maintain continuity with the children.
• Wet season: the onset of the rainy season further reduced attendance, as heavy rains make travel to the Hub difficult and unsafe for children, particularly the youngest. The team is adapting session scheduling around weather patterns where practical.
• Competing demands on children’s time: school schedules and family responsibilities continue to cause natural fluctuations in attendance — a reality of working with vulnerable children that the Hub’s flexible, drop-in-friendly model is designed to accommodate.

Next Steps (Coming Quarter)

• Re-engagement drive: targeted outreach to families and children whose attendance lapsed during the closure, showcasing the renovated facilities and the new movie sessions.
• Consolidating the movie sessions: settling into a consistent weekly/bi-monthly rhythm, with a curated list of age-appropriate films mapped to specific life-skills and values themes.
• Continued SCEF Reads programming: regular read-aloud and guided discussion sessions, building on the momentum of the session with Joanna.
• Expanded arts and crafts: new creative projects following the success of bracelet making, giving children further opportunities to build skills and confidence through making.
• Rainy-season contingency: adjusting timetables and indoor programming to keep the Hub accessible and active through the wet months.

Thank You — Your Impact

Renovated washrooms and a safer play space may not make headlines, but for the children of Jamestown, they are a daily, tangible message: you matter, and you deserve a place built with care. This quarter, your generosity renewed the Hub’s foundations — literally — and opened new doors to learning through film, stories, and craft. Through closures and rainstorms alike, the Learning Hub has remained what your support built it to be: a stable, trusted space where children grow. Thank you for standing with them.

During the past quarter, the SCEF Learning Hub continued to provide structured after-school support focused on:

• Literacy development
• Reading engagement (SCEF Reads)
• Creative arts and craft activities
• Health and life skills promotion, including personal hygiene

This quarter emphasized strengthening foundational reading skills, building creativity, and promoting practical life skills in a safe and supportive environment.

Overall, learners demonstrated increased enthusiasm for reading, improved participation during group sessions, and stronger engagement in creative and life skills activities. The Hub continues to serve as a safe learning space that nurtures confidence, curiosity, and personal growth.

2. Program Overview

The SCEF Learning Hub supports vulnerable and street-connected children by providing:

• Guided reading and literacy support
• Structured reading engagement sessions (SCEF Reads)
• Creative arts and craft activities
• Health, life skills, and personal hygiene education
• A safe, structured after-school environment

The goal is to build literacy, creativity, confidence, and practical life skills that support long-term development.

3. Key Activities Implemented.

 3.1 SCEF Reads Session

During this quarter, children were happily engaged in a SCEF Reads session featuring the book “Alexander von Humboldt.”

The children experienced the joy that comes from listening to a story, understanding it, and reflecting on its deeper meaning.

Through the reading, they learned:

• How nature is deeply connected
• Why protecting the environment is important
• The value of curiosity and lifelong learning
• The joy of following one’s interests, talents, and unique path

Smaller groups were formed to allow:

• More personal interaction
• Open discussion
• Better connection between the story and their own lives

This approach helped children freely express their thoughts and relate the lessons to their personal experiences.

3.2 Paired Reading Practice

Children practiced paired reading, where they read together in pairs and helped each other with difficult words.

This activity encouraged learners to:

• Listen carefully to their partners
• Decode unfamiliar words collaboratively
• Build reading confidence
• Support and motivate one another

Paired reading reinforced teamwork and strengthened literacy skills in a fun and engaging way.

3.3 Creative Arts and Craft Activity

Young learners participated in a craft activity, creating beaded bracelets.

Through threading, patterning, and tying, children made colorful, unique pieces that reflected their creativity and personality.

Each bracelet demonstrated:

• Fine motor skill development
• Patience and concentration
• Confidence and self-expression

The activity fostered pride in personal achievement and encouraged problem-solving through hands-on learning.

3.4 Health, Life Skills, and Personal Hygiene PromotionHealth and Safety Awareness

 Thirty-eight learners attended a session focused on Safety at Home and in the Community.

They learned:

• Safe handling of sharp objects
• Cooking gas safety
• Road safety practices
• Electrical safety precautions

The session included demonstrations and interactive discussions, ensuring learners could recall and apply safety principles in daily life.

Personal Hygiene Session

Thirty-two learners (16 boys and 16 girls) participated in a personal hygiene session.

Learners practiced hygiene habits such as:

• Using lemon water while bathing to prevent body odor
• Sneezing and coughing properly into a tissue or elbow

By the end of the session, learners understood the importance of personal hygiene and maintaining cleanliness. The session was interactive and engaging, with learners actively participating and asking questions.

4. Key Results and Observed Impact4.1 Literacy and Reading Engagement

• Increased enthusiasm during reading sessions
• Improved listening and comprehension skills
• Stronger participation during paired reading and SCEF Reads sessions
• Learners began connecting stories with personal experiences

4.2 Creative Development

• Enhanced fine motor skills through craft activities
• Increased patience and attention span
• Strengthened confidence through completed projects
• Learners demonstrated understanding of safety principles and hygiene practices
• Improved awareness of hazards at home and in the community
• Greater confidence in discussing and applying health and safety tips

4.3 Health, Life Skills, and Personal Hygiene

5. Challenges Identified

• Inconsistent attendance among some learners
• Limited craft materials for expanding creative activities
• Continued reinforcement needed for safety and hygiene lessons
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• Smaller group sessions increase participation and understanding
• Hands-on activities improve retention and engagement
• Practical life skills and hygiene lessons empower learners to apply knowledge in daily life
• Safe and nurturing learning environments foster confidence and curiosity

6. Lessons Learned

7. Way Forward (Next Quarter Priorities) 

• Continue SCEF Reads sessions with new book selections
• Expand creative arts and paired reading activities
• Conduct additional health, safety, and personal hygiene sessions
• Introduce reflection journals to track reading and learning progress

Strengthen attendance monitoring and follow-up

8. Conclusion

Through structured reading, paired reading practice, creative arts, and health and hygiene education, the Hub continues to nurture:

• Literacy development
• Creativity and confidence
• Practical life skills and personal growth

The Hub remains a safe and transformative space where vulnerable children are empowered to read, think, create, and grow.

With continued structured programming and focused support, the Learning Hub is well-positioned to deepen its impact in the coming quarter.

• Learning_HubGlobal_Giving_Report.docx (DOCX)