Introduction: Reading and Spelling Beam by:Lwandile
Tshwete
The idea: is motivated by my experience as a young South African growing. I
was inspired by the low literacy rate of my peers at high school. I realized
how it was that, their biggest challenge was that they could not understand the
teacher (who happened to be white), and what was being taught because it was
all taught in English. And English was a language that we all could not master.
However, some of us where a lot better
because of our past experience of model C primary schools. Now this gave me an idea of starting a
reading club, a volunteer program of tutoring Grade 7s. I simply chose grade 7’s because it is their
last chance to prove themselves before higher levels of education. This is a chance to inspire them and give
them an extra boost in morale, before they hit their most challenging stage of
growth, the high school phase.
I started the program as part of a Leadership course I was attending in Cape Town 2012. The name of the program
is called Activate, basically empowering a group of youth from different
backgrounds to come together and share the difficulties/pressures and stresses
of the youth of South Africa. The aim was to create a network of empowered and
motivated youth that will share ideas on how to fix some of the problems faced
by the youth. As part of the program I volunteered my time and started tutoring
classes of Grade 7’s around the Langa area in Cape Town. Four months down the
line, my class won first place both in English and isiXhosa at the Cape Town
Library Reading and Spelling, Phase one of the competition against 6 other
Libraries. To take 2nd place English and 1st place
isiXhosa in the main competition against 13 other Libraries.
My
passion for reading
comes from my curiosity and interests in social history. I read books to expand
my own interest and knowledge. I read to empower myself. The experience of
reading for me is like gold, I treasure wisdom so much that I practically feed
my brain information to keep myself inspired. This passion I want to share with
the world and surrounding community. Part of the reason I started the reading
club is to promote the spirit of reading and improve the literacy rate of our
dear youth. I personally feel that once the know how to read, they will improve
their chances of success. And also better their confidence levels. If not, I like reading to those who can’t. I
enjoy it. I resigned my job in Cape Town so that I can be closer to my
daughter, and be part of her life as a growing young person. So it’s my passion
for development and the love for my people that is the drive behind me doing
this.
Promoting
Literature_ I go
into local schools to introduce the program myself and inspire the kids to take
part. This gives them a chance to interact with me personally. And also to
research on what phase of study the kids are partaking. The aim is to help them
read books on the same curriculum level.
·
THE PROGRAM: One hour reading class on Tuesdays and Thursdays
+ extra holiday classes
A reading and spelling competition at end of 3rd term
Crowning of the Reading and Spelling King and Queen
A reading and spelling competition at end of 3rd term
Crowning of the Reading and Spelling King and Queen
·
All finances of the competition
will rely on sponsorships.
The
Library as a resource
centre will help mobilize the program. With the help of the The Steve Biko
Centre Library/Resource Centre we could bring this program closer to the Youth
of Ginsberg. If possible hold the classes at the library. As the program evolves,
it will be liable to seeking more volunteers to help with tutoring, depending
on the numbers.
In Closing, this program plans to
expand. The same youth that we are working with, we
will be motivating them to start their own volunteering programs like: reading
to the elderly or patients at hospitals. The voluntary part of the program is
designed to infest some morale and dignity amongst one another. We also plan to
accompany this reading program with a chess gathering, where we will be
tutoring chess. This will be a socializing tool for us, also engaging into
debates and book clubs.
Regards
Mr. L Tshwete
This I love! Willing to volunteer my time.
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