As we drive into the township passing the usual animal or two...
I smile as i get to MR FIX's garage ...
....before turning the corner into the pre-school where i am working:-) 
its a great place to be and i get to see noses pressed against the window as i walk throw the gate and a few cheeky waves before walking through the door!!!
Written in Afrikaans this is the schedule for our sessions at school...busy times!
In Concordia Volunteer Blog Part 1..... i mentioned the children speak either xhosa or afrikaans depending on their culture... but learn both at school.
###Listen and checkout the link below to hear the different 'clicks' they use within words.
Xhosa lesson- Learning the clicks
Ella (from the safehouse) sings a click song...have a listen Ella and Nandipha singing with clicks
We then gather the children for morning songs...which is followed by ...
.... the days lessons often starting with the days of the week...
and the months of the year....:-)
Had to post this little clip as was so sweet to see the kids so excited about the bubbles at break time.
Shana is a great teacher here and is still training too so its lovely working with her as we share ideas about activities and I learn about this age group and she learns and questions me about teaching styles and methods in the UK.
we cover different topics over the weeks including my home and family....
road safety...
Learn colours with spongebob...
...whats right and wrong behaviours....
and sounds...to help develop language skills.
The children can then play after the morning lessons and they are creative... leading the way Sibabalo uses a piece of wood as his steering wheel to collect other children on his bus...
 |
| and I often become a climbing frame!!! |
They make mud pies, play hairdressers and share absolutely everything with each other, even a bit of lollypop!
They fill their wellies with sand and mud...
....before chasing kittens round the outside area! Their faces were priceless!!!
We took them to the soccer field and they were so excited to have a beach ball, and with the globe on it could teach them where in the world they live and where 'Missy' danni lives.
Lunch time beckons and they race to sit for a slice of bread and maybe some gravy. Plates are always cleared with them asking each other for more lol. 
The children learned about fires and fire safety last week and we made collages and they were so excited that I bought in coloured paper (which isn't easily accessible here) and they made the most of the activity.
.
They are always happy to show you their work and some children produce some great pieces, like these traffic lights from the road safety topic.
Then before you know it it's the end of another day and i'm chanting 'IN COME TIME' which the kids think is a fun way to march inside. But not before they've led me astray on the swing...yes they made me scream pushing me so high haha whilst they jumped on it to keep it moving lol!
Ntomboxolo the teacher below is lovely, she is great with the children and was having fun as we watched them run and scream to bubbles blowing in the wind:-)
So how did I spend the donations from the fancy dress charity walk i hear you cry.... everything below that follows for the pre-school and the safe house was funded from the monies raised!!!!
So how did the pre-school benefit...???
After much consideration and speaking with the teachers and Irene the principal about what they feel is needed most, with the donations from the charity walk we were able to buy some useful resources for the playschool...so again those of you who took part and contributed...smile at the difference you'll be making.
We bought some educational DVD's to give the learners a visual stimulus in class to reinforce what the teacher is saying...the DVD's are on topics including letters and numbers, movement, shapes and colours, seeing and hearing to name a few. All topics that can be re-used each year to develop learning. Alvin and the chipmunks added in there for a rainy day!:-)
Shana had mentioned to me about some educational posters, so I bought some posters for each classroom that you can see below...the time and clocks...
The posters are a great visual aid for the teachers and help the children get pictures in their mind to increase their rate of learning for certain topics.
Cholotte the lady on the right said to me that they would really benefit form a water urn to heat and sterilize the water that is used for cooking and cleaning helping to keep the children in good health. I was so excited to get this for her, made my day handing it over!
Your donations have also been used to buy resources that the teachers can use for class activities...i.e glue sticks, crayons, coloured paper, play dough, chalks things that are in limited supply and will be greatly used and very much appreciated!!!
To help with the pre-school younger children learn their numbers, they now also have a little hand puppet and book to help make learning fun and the older children can also use the addition and subtraction cards to develop numeracy skills.
Hand puppet in action haha!
Above me you can also see the laptop and additional 23'' screen for the children to watch the DVD's on and for the teachers to be able to show class activities on to the larger groups.
The teachers are very thankful for these resources and asked me to pass on thanks to those of you who supported the charity walk to make this happen:-)
The donations raised also allowed me to be able to fund a little party fun day for the children approx 73 at present, giving them hotdogs, cupcake (as they were soooooooooooo excited at the thought of cake), juice, few sweets and crisps. As you can see they were keen to be let inside!!!
Thank you Jesus, thank you Jesus for our food, for our food...many, many blessings, many, many blessings...amen!
Was lovely that Rachel who I live with was also able to bring the children from the safe house to the pre-school to join in the fun and she arrived just in time for Irene and the teachers to make me cry saying such lovely things about my time here, with a big thank you from the children. Topped off by a lovely little girl chloe saying ''I will miss you very very much danni' think it snapped a heartstring:-)
Then we opened lollies and played outside in the sunshine and as always was amazing to see the smiles on their faces...especially once I lost the lump in my throat and could tell them I was crying happy tears. Carin the little girl below to my right in red, said that I must come back again...yes that brought another tear!
The children wanting to attempt to blow bubbles...
Me and the wonderful staff below...Cholotte and Ursulla are hiding from the camera though!
...and then Sharon the project co-ordinator (left) came to join in the fun. She has been great helping us get everything for the school with the monies raised and has drove me all over Knysna to choose and collect things...so big thank you:-)
The picture below shows some of the drawings that the children had done on the back of their plates for the party...
....a wonderful team.
I love this picture of me and Rachel who i've been able to share experiences with at the pre-school, the safe house and at our Knysna home. This allegedly quiet (so she keeps telling me haha) scottish wie gal will be missed.
Well how could i turn down their request for me to play on the see-saw????!
....And to top it all off we had bought a little toy car for each child to play with and take home as a little treat, which gave them ownership of something and excitement to have something new to play with.
When i took it in, it made one teacher a little emotional...pleased it wasn't just me shedding a few happy tears!!!
This pre-school is an incredible place with wonderful staff that really do have the childrens best interests at heart. Check out Concordia volunteer work part 1 blog too if you haven't already done so. Those of you who have read it, 2 teachers to care for 75-100 children is incredible, even more so considering their young ages of 2-6years. This pre-school has a big heart and makes a big impact within the community as not only is it providing education, food for the children and a safe learning environment.
So how did the safe house benefit...
Friday 3rd May... Another day in the Concordia Township but after another day at school, afterwards I went to the safe house where Rachel and myself were able to feed the children who live there and some from the community by using the donations raised.
The drive down to the safe house everyday...We always pass a few children hanging around outside the local shop...somethings are global activities lol, many will call after school and others may not be lucky enough to attend school.
As always though what always shines through is a sense of community and 'that' concordia spirit. Be great to bottle some up and take it back to the UK:-)
Five minutes from the pre-school is the safe house ran by Penny and Ella. A small RDP house with 2 bedrooms that houses 11 children, Ella is below hiding from the camera. She does township tours to pay for the houses running costs. It was Ella who initially used her own house as a safe house for women and children who needed help and support within the community, now through the tours and setting up a skills centre to help provide people with a more independent income she has been able to expand and help more people in the local area.
The skinny little white boy below as his mum calls him now, is Nathaniel Rachels son, playing with the children at the house...beauty and marco.
Beauty looks like butter wouldn't melt but can be soooo loud. Beautiful little girl aged 4 but can be withdrawn which is expected after a unsettled children left to wander the township on her own aged 2.
She worked really hard getting the decorations ready to brighten up the soup kitchen ready for the street children arriving this afternoon. they are very lucky to have here there.
The donations also provided funds for us to buy some clothes for the 3 children that are at the safe house everyday, 3 tracksuits and socks were purchased, each chosen to match their personalities.
Toffee was chilling out in his blue and green tracksuit...he looks like butter wouldn't melt. 
And last but no least Takunda our boy in blue...
So as winter approaches in Kynsna, the children have something clean and warm to wear:-)
Sharon the project co-ordinator helped us arrange the party and gave a helping hand giving out the hot dogs as the children arrived. As you can imagine they were very keen... me first...no me missy!!!
The kids were excited to be fed and watered and they all mixed well together and a few hopefully making new friends.
The girls we're very well mannered and polite, the girl to the left is michaela, she's been in my class at the pre-school, she is such a gentle soul.
Cheeky monkies....
The children just kept coming from the streets as the news spread...some looking a little apprehensive until welcomed in:-)
The children of mixed ages from 2years to 15years had a kick around with the football...I did my best Beckham demonstration haha.
Rachel has been working at the safe house where Nandipha lives and they will both be missed.
Nandipha is a very caring and strong lady who I will definitely keep in touch with...... and as for Rachel below my partner in crime over here, she will be missed lots and has done wonderful things with the children to make them smile and feel love everyday. I've been lucky to be able to share these experiences with her...so Rach when you read this a HUGE thanks :-)
As always time flies when you are having fun, and as the afternoon passed it was time for the children and us to leave...Toffee and Takunda waved us off from the gates:-)
The children started to make their way back down the township streets and hopefully to a safe abode for the night...
But a lovely afternoon and more children to remember from my time here. It's been emotional as my time in the township is coming to an end, but I can leave with a smile and a tear knowing that whilst here, I tried my best to create positive experiences for the children and I hope that you'll agree that the money from the charity walk was put to good use through food, clothing and educational resources.
As the saying goes...some people walk in and out of your lives, but some will leave footprints in your heart and with how I feel today I can feel a footprint or two that will stay with me forever and hopefully I can return to this part of Africa in the future and see if i've left a print behind xxx
With love and thanks xxx
