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Skills
Development and Education Sector Contribution
Sithandwa
Craft Centre
The
35 previously unemployed ladies who received free skills training in the
craft of beading and embroidery, and who craft exquisite home products at
the Sithandwa Craft Centre
adjoining Evita se Perron, can testify how The Darling Trust has impacted
on their lives. This is the most visible of the Trust’s projects, and
the gaily chatting groups of women making lovely items while surrounded by
their pre-school children, are there for all to observe.
Browse through the Sithandwa catalogue and note the loving care
that has gone into the design and craftsmanship of each displayed product;
consider the expense and energy that goes into pro-actively securing
orders and marketing products in order to ensure a sustainable income for
so many households.
Remedial
service
The
teachers of Vooruitsig Primary and Darling Primary express their relief at
having a qualified remedial teacher
redress the debilitating illiteracy situation that follows the fact
that when one cannot read, one cannot learn, that is, given the current
schooling system. The Darling
Trust pays the salary of an irrepressible source of inspiration and energy
to assist those children who run the danger of being sidelined, especially
the children coming from the farm schools who face such enormous gaps to
be bridged. Excellent learning
material is utilised: AHA-Funda!
Learning material packages. The
relevant children have renewed hope and react favourably to the
individualised attention they receive.
Early
Literacy Programme
The
little pre-schoolers at Sonstraaltjies enjoy being read to on a weekly
basis as part of the Early Literacy
Programme; they begin to love and not fear books, objects often not
found in their homes. This initiative is being monitored to assess its
impact in the course of a year, and goes a long way towards preparing the
children for becoming fully literate later on.
Parenting
Lifeskills Programme
Yet
another group that could testify to the influence of a Darling Trust
intervention, would be the mothers, grandmothers and caregivers who have
undergone the Parenting Lifeskills
Programme. In the course
of 12 sessions these ladies are shown how to assist in preparing their
toddler and pre-school child for what will be encountered and expected at
school, such as spatial orientation, etc.
In a relaxed, non-threatening way it is shown how the child can be
prepared for school without resorting to expensive toys or educational
games, but what can be achieved with what is already available in and
around the house. Smiles
abound, for now little hands and minds can be occupied fruitfully at all
times, but especially when the weather turns nasty!
Sponsorship
A
third year student of education who wants to become a teacher knows what
it means to have a sponsor for
registration fees, hostel fees and book fees – those items that fall
outside the scope of his bursary and his mother’s provisionary
abilities.
Artisan
Training
The
10 young men who are currently employed as builder aides with construction
enterprises in Darling and Malmesbury, screened and elected to receive Artisan
Training on site in Darling - by an accredited provider - over 18
months in order to obtain an NQF registered National Certificate in
Construction Carpentry, are commencing with this training within the next
month, and – mark this! – will still be receiving their full wage for
the duration!
Fine
Arts classes:
Painting, music and percussion
The
children who come to the free Fine
Arts classes presented by The Darling Trust receive a wonderful
opportunity for exposure. Scores
of children annually receive painting
tuition by a resident artist who is also a qualified social worker.
Peruse her monthly feedback report detailing the rationale and be
astounded as to the detail that goes into the preparation and execution of
the children’s introduction to discover their own expression amid
various media and themes. Several
children and adults also benefit from the free music tuition that includes recorder as well as piano tuition.
These learners anticipate the arrival of percussion instruments
within the next fortnight, and which will enable a children’s
percussion band of 25 members – ages ranging from
7
to 14 years.
Filmmaker
initiative
The
young filmmaker who accompanied
the expert to the Sondeza Youth Development camp in December, to learn the
lingo and the ropes, would gush forth about the rare opportunity he had to
visit Koeberg, The Waterfront and
Robben
Island
with the youth group while attending the leadership courses.
Free internet access
School children from Darling use the two
computers with internet facility and printer free of charge - the only
such facility in Darling.
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