Learning & Sharing at Noluthando

In June Samara held a capacity building workshop for the teachers, here Louisa Feiter shares how it went.

I only understand a word here and there – mostly the English words thrown in inbetween – but judging by the lively discussion and intermittent laughter, the workshop is going well.

This is our second workshop with all twelve teachers from our six ECD centres and this time we’ve partnered with the Centre for Creative Education, which offers a Xhosa course for ECD teachers. Nomathemba Tindlini, the facilitator, was a kindergarten teacher herself, and now passes on her knowledge through these courses and mentoring.

Over the next five days the teachers look at the three golden rules of teaching – receive with reverence, teach with love and let go in freedom – how children learn through imitation and role-modelling; the senses as they develop in children; the structure and rhythm of a day and the importance of free play.

There are also many opportunities to get up and be active as the teachers all have a turn to share with the group what songs and games they know. In the afternoons, when saturated by the morning’s theory, there is the chance to learn some more practical skills and the teachers make felt balls, woollen pom-pom balls and beanbags for their centres. This is received with great enthusiasm and at the end all the teachers go home with material to make more toys.

By the time Friday comes, the bonds that had been forged during the last workshop have been strengthened and everyone heads home armed with new knowledge and skills that hopefully will begin showing over the coming months at the ECD centres.

New Faces

At Nomzamo we have welcomed two new teachers – Nosibusiso and Anathi. Best friends since they were at school, their love for children has brought them to Nomzamo where they run the centre with youthful energy and enthusiasm. For Nosibusiso especially, Nomzamo holds special significance: many years ago, she too attended this ECD centre.

Here they share what they love best and what challenges they face:

Nosibusiso: Teaching is in my blood. I am following in my mother’s footsteps – she teaches grade R at our local primary school. I enjoy teaching the children how to do things by themselves.

The biggest challenge is the parents. Some of them send their children to us without any food. Then we have to share our lunch or share the food from the other children. For some children the only time they get proper food is while they are at Nomzamo.

Anathi: I love children. I don’t have a child myself but I love children. The most difficult part is the parents that don’t take care of their children. They come to the centre without proper clothes and we have to try find them something warm to wear. It makes us sad but we try to help as much as possible.

For more information on Samara, visit www.samara.org.za or get in touch with Louisa Feiter on info@samara.org.za