One of the courses I am enrolled in here at UKZN is through the political science department, it is called "Policy Issues and Service Learning". Where the bulk of our class time is done via volunteering (like poll monitoring). We do study policy issues on our own or in groups, but outside of the school work, we volunteer at the Ubuntu Children's Center a couple times a week. This place is home to 35 young girls (from toddlers to teenagers) who come from unfortunate family situations. Here they are provided beds, food, school clothes, homework help, and a supportive Christian environment.
When we go out there (we take a small public bus, a coombi) we help them learn English, we play soccer, we talk with them about what varsity is like (college), and so forth. Last night the older girls actually came to campus and we all had a meeting about where we want to take things from here on, since us volunteers are here only another couple months, and then other students will come. I am preoccupied with how to get some of the local students more involved, so that it would be an ongoing, sustainable volunteering system. We talked with Magic, the Center's director, about fundraising opportunities and weekend gatherings we want to have with the girls in the next couple weeks.
Let me just say that Magic is a star! He founded this center and he continues to be the prominent voice for the center and all the girls. While he does excellent networking around the area, and is greatly assisted, he is just Magical--encouraging, proactive, wise, and street smart. A great leader who we are all learning from.
(soon to come) I have included a picture here from when we were setting up a science experiment with the girls. While, yes, some girls were too young to understand, there were others that were so excited to read aloud the whole 'worksheet' we made up--in English--. Then others were concerned with collecting all the necessary materials (bugs, plants, soil), while others were jazzed that they had a notepad to be responsible over in which they were to record results. It was a good afternoon for learning.
When we go out there (we take a small public bus, a coombi) we help them learn English, we play soccer, we talk with them about what varsity is like (college), and so forth. Last night the older girls actually came to campus and we all had a meeting about where we want to take things from here on, since us volunteers are here only another couple months, and then other students will come. I am preoccupied with how to get some of the local students more involved, so that it would be an ongoing, sustainable volunteering system. We talked with Magic, the Center's director, about fundraising opportunities and weekend gatherings we want to have with the girls in the next couple weeks.
Let me just say that Magic is a star! He founded this center and he continues to be the prominent voice for the center and all the girls. While he does excellent networking around the area, and is greatly assisted, he is just Magical--encouraging, proactive, wise, and street smart. A great leader who we are all learning from.
(soon to come) I have included a picture here from when we were setting up a science experiment with the girls. While, yes, some girls were too young to understand, there were others that were so excited to read aloud the whole 'worksheet' we made up--in English--. Then others were concerned with collecting all the necessary materials (bugs, plants, soil), while others were jazzed that they had a notepad to be responsible over in which they were to record results. It was a good afternoon for learning.
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