Thursday 12th November – Welkom
Our host Etienne arranged for Sarah and I to visit a township junior school this morning. The school educates 963 children from Grade R to Grade 7. The school staff struggle to get parents involved with the school but have had some success in this recently. They have a school board team which has parents as members. The school usually run a feeding scheme but did not receive funding for food this year so they identify the most vulnerable children and make up food packages for their families which the parents/carers must collect. They run a scheme called Adopt-a-Cop for truants where the police will pick children up and take them home. They then must check in with police for the next two weeks. We spoke to the support for learning teacher who amazed us with stories of her work with children who have physical, behavioural and emotional difficulties.
In the afternoon we visited an OAP home which was managed by a wonderful woman named Anneka. It was a pleasure to see the facilities that they had on offer here, I chatted to various women and men who told me how happy they were and how they enjoyed the company of others and the support that the home has to offer. It was a bright and cheerful place and all staff are dedicated and hardworking. I wanted to stay longer and thoroughly enjoyed my visit here. I was shocked to hear that the local municipality was planning to cut subsidies to the home altogether in the future. If this were to happen it would certainly be a tragedy for all concerned.
1 Comment:
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- Posted by Ben and Erin
17 November 2009 at 18:43Hi Aunty Sarah, We hope you are having a wonderful time. Mum says it sounds really interesting we think she is jealous. The picture with the lion is great, we are looking forward to seeing lots more when you get home. Erin liked your hat and thought the lion was a cat! Lots of love, Ben and Erinxxx
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