DEAR Editor,-
During 2018 I was privileged to be part of a group of dedicated volunteers who regularly pitched up twice a week, at a school in Nzimakwe to conduct reading classes in English.
None of us were able to speak Zulu and only one woman had any real qualifications, but I like to think we did quite well!
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We did ‘brain gym’ exercises that amused the children no end, we played games like ‘I spy’ and all of us learnt about the importance of ‘sight words’.
Teachers came to us to thank us and said there was a marked improvement in most of the children we worked with.
Our sole retired volunteer teacher drove the whole exercise with patience and love.
This was all as a result of my interaction with a forward-thinking school principal and in keeping with the DA’s stance on the importance of education.
It worried me that so many children seem to battle with reading throughout their school careers and with overcrowded classrooms, most teachers don’t seem to have the time to spend on individuals.
We asked the principal to send some of the children who were really battling to our little classes, so this small group was able to make a difference in a few lives at least.
I would really like to appeal to other retired folk, or indeed anyone with a bit of spare time, to approach local schools and make a difference in a few lives this coming year.
Local libraries are very helpful with reading books and a lot of people are happy to donate children’s reading books if you put the word out.
Let’s try to improve the chances of our children to compete in a very challenging world, which, in turn, can improve all our lives.
STEPHANIE BREEDT
DA Councillor
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