Since about a week I am working in Joubertina. The other volunteers arrived back home in Germany and now I am on my own.
My work starts quite late, I am in school at about ten oclock and have my first class at 12. I teach children from grade two, who do not speak english at all. Language is after all the biggest barrier and problem. So i have to be creative and let the children play with paint and other software to get a feeling for clicking and moving the cursor. Some are afraid and dont want to touch the computer at all. But every lesson ends with children who lost any shyness towards the computer and explore, noisy, new paths. Often they dont even want to leave.
The Computer class here is established quite poor compared to Somerset East. The computers are very old (Pentium 2) and have got many many viruses on. Just a new installation would help. But for the fact, that the future of this project is not very sure, the time invested to set up all 13 would be too much.
Then at 2 to 3 oclock the first adult class comes in. I give them the possibility to come in earlier to have more time for creating their PowerPoint presentation or experience more in Excel.
At 5 oclock the late evening students come in and often they have to wait for the previous students to finish. They dont want to go.
At about 8 oclock I return home to my host family, where my food is waiting for me in the microwave already. The family is very nice, and I am from the first day a part of it. Mami, my Hostmother is a teacher at my Primary school and helps me out with every problem or wish I have.
Joubertina is a really nice Place. With the time I got not really bored, but used to the beauty of the countryside. The area is a contrast to that. A township as you imagine in the pictures. The children playing cars on the street with self made toys from wire. Dirt everywhere. Every night loud music and partying. Alcohol is a big problem in this society. So actually the perfect environment for a volunteer: Alot of work to do!
I like teaching my adult classes. They are very happy to learn something and appreciate every lesson. It differs from the young coloured girl up to the old white Lady, coming from Joubertina. Yes, I am not situated in Joubertina actually; the township is called Ravinia and about 5 Kilometers away.
So it is a challenge keeping everyone busy and interested. But it is possible.
Next week will be the graduation of this classes. Therefore I am organizing already in the mornings by going to town (Joubertina) and doing things.
After the graduatiuon I will return back to Somerset East where a new Adult class will be coming up.
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So far