Veterinary Assistance Planning (All)
Kuyasa
Sports
OVC: Home from Home
Girl Impact
GAPA Veterinary Assistance
AVG TEMP:
LANGUAGE LESSON:
13 ˚C
Xhosa: ‘ubuntu’ means ‘HUMANITY TO OTHERS’ or ‘I AM WHAT I AM BECAUSE OF WHO WE ALL ARE’
Over 30's Peninsula Projects
OVC: Fikelela
WHAT’S NEW ON THE GROUND? • • •
Our Sports program now reaches 3 communities with the addition of a new school. We welcomed 2 returning volunteers to the Academy Volunteer role – Shane & Ida. Volunteer Coordinator, Chris, stepped in to support us during peak season.
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To raise awareness of gender equality challenges in Cape Town, we partnered with photographer Sarah Isaac to launch and distribute a photobook. Called Inspiring Confidence, it features photographs of the women and girls we work with every day.
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Girls from our youth support group were treated to a day out recently; learning about self-defense, yoga and meditation, as well as relationship guidance.
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Job readiness skills were implemented with our coding partner, Quirky 30. Participants are working on their CV’s, interview techniques and workplace ethics to ensure they land those IT jobs when their course is completed!
Photo credit: Josh Botha
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We have been welcomed into the community of Constantia to continue our partnership with the local NGO, Sporting Chance. Constantia is not a township or informal community, but rather a school populated with many farm worker’s children that may not have access to organized sports without the intervention of Sporting Chance. The school is very diverse and provides a unique experience for our volunteers!
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Children in Grades 1-3 were assessed by sports volunteers, with 45% showing improvement from the last time they were assessed! The youngsters loved the attention and we plan on focusing more on them in the future.
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Sports volunteers felt that the Olympics was a great way to combine heritage through physical activity. As part of heritage month in South Africa, volunteers introduced the Olympics theme at an aftercare program we partner with, with children taking part in Olympic ceremonies, receiving medals and competing in traditional sports.
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A larger number of volunteers recently meant that our program was able to expand and reach more young children than ever! Split across 2 organizations (a foster care home and a pre-school), we were able to work on fine and gross motor skills with over 40 children, with much needed one-on-one time at both locations. This one-on-one time is vital for the children who otherwise would fall behind in the overcrowded centers.
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In order to effectively work with children that have been attending our sessions for a number of years now, our assessment tool is in need of an upgrade. Our volunteers are looking to add school-readiness skills to our programming to help children prepare for the next step in their development, whilst still targeting the youngest members and their fine and gross motor skills. This will ensure that we are assessing and offering the best help possible for all the age groups we work with.
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During the school holidays, sports volunteers joined in the programming with the foster care teenagers we work with. These teens are attempting to complete their President’s Award (Duke of Edinburgh) physical recreation element, and so journeyed to nearby Mandela Park to work on their athletic skills. This was a great opportunity for teens to take part in track and field activities in an actual stadium, with encouragement and motivation from volunteers.
“My trip with African Impact was one of the most incredible things that I have ever done in my life. It exceeded any expectations that I had, by far! The staff and the African Impact team definitely made this experience what it was. The projects were incredible and I felt like I made an impact in the bigger picture just with my 4-week stay.” - Hunter Brennan, Teaching Project
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In addition to supporting teachers in the classroom, recent volunteers helped to re-construct the damaged roof at one of our partner preschools! This has put over 20 children back into their own class; stopping overcrowding and allowing for more one-onone work with volunteers and teachers.
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Volunteers helped teachers at two preschools complete assessments of Grade R learners. The results showed 35% of children could identify numbers 1-10, 15% could identify five basic shapes and 40% could identify seven colors. This data is helping our volunteers to plan with teachers. We are going to plan more schoolreadiness lessons to give children the best chance in primary school next year!
“Biggest highlights were getting to experience 4 completely different weeks as a volunteer within African Impact. I loved getting to work with the staff, meeting new people every week (and them becoming really good friends), as well as all the weekend activities I experienced!” - Claire, Sports Development, UK
Claire spent one of her weekends with these gentle giants during an overnight safari!
“Combing the Girl Impact and Teaching projects with African Impact was unforgettable. Teaching makes the smallest things feel like big achievements; like 5-year-olds learning to write the number 8!” - Morwenna, UK