Give EduLift the support it needs
LONEHILL – Now in its second year of operation, the EduLift SA non-profit company is focused on helping underprivileged children improve their school marks. Members of the public are invited to get involved.
Now in its second year, the EduLift SA non-profit company is working towards giving underprivileged children the support they need to do well in school.
The Fourways Review last reported on the organisation a year ago as founder Justin Carlse and other volunteers set out to help underprivileged children from grades 4 to 12 understand the school syllabus better and improve their marks. Classes are held by the organisation every Saturday morning on the Crawford College Lonehill grounds, as reported in Ordinary community members do extraordinary things: Edulift empowers children through education [Week ending 25 May, 2018]. Now in its second year of operation, the non-profit has started teaching younger grades as well and has also made literacy skills a priority.
“The programme is going well,” explained Carlse, who founded EduLift SA and is a co-director.
“Now in our second year, we are better prepared and more focused on what we want to achieve with the children.
“We’ve seen improvements from the children too – although there was not a gigantic increase in marks, on average our kids got about 10 per cent higher on their reports. For the junior phase [we teach], there has been an improvement in maths marks, and in the senior phase there has been a big improvement in English marks.”
The new academic year has seen some changes: First of all, the learning opportunity is now also offered to Grade 3 learners, while previously only children in Grade 4 and above could attend. Volunteers have also made literacy a priority.
“What we’ve noticed is that literacy is an issue in the junior classes,” explained Evaen Naidoo, another EduLift director.
“There are about two children in each class who cannot read, even in Grade 7, so we’ve been working on these skills [during Saturday lessons].”
The teachers and volunteers develop reading and comprehension skills through online programs and having children practise reading one-on-one with volunteers, many of whom who are learners at Crawford College Lonehill and members of the school’s community outreach team.
“The school has been a big supporter, from letting us use the classrooms, to letting the school’s receptionist Patricia Moyo, whose own daughter has improved her English marks through EduLift, be here on Saturdays to help dish out food,” Carlse added.
EduLift SA also provides meals to the 247 registered children every week, thanks to the donations of Pick n Pay Lonehill and other contributors.
The organisation is always looking for help, and members of the public are encouraged to contribute any way they can.
“We’re always looking for volunteers, although you don’t necessarily need teaching experience – just patience,” explained Carlse.
The organisation is also always looking for donations of fresh, healthy food to give the children, financial support and educational materials (such as pens and notebooks).
Sanitary pads are also always welcome, as the organisation wants the youngsters who attend to learn to be comfortable in the environment.
You can contact EduLift for more information, or else drop off donations at Crawford College Lonehill.
Details: www.edulift.org; admin@eduliftsa.org or the EduLift SA Facebook or Instagram account.
