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A tour of Christian David School

7/25/2010

3 Comments

 
The full set of pictures in now up in the "Pictures!" section.

The school I'm volunteering in looks in some ways much like a school you'd see in Canada, except that it looks rundown and old.  There are classrooms, supplies, and bells ringing.  The difference is that this school is teaching some of the poorest of the poor.  The children come from Capricorn Township, walking about 30 minutes each way.  They are fed a bowl of porridge in the morning and usually a rice dish with a bit of meat in the afternoon.  For many children, this is all they will eat all day.

 
Picture
This is a view of the school
Picture
The playground - not quite up to Canadian standards...
Picture
The water fountain. Children cup their hands to drink. This is also where they wash their hands.
Picture
The hallway. The shcool is set up as one long hall with classrooms along the one side.
Picture
Getting breakfast
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There are 42 grade one children in the class I'm in. 42!!
Picture
You don't see this in a Canadian classroom, either. Many of the children are HIV positive...
Picture
And yet, all children smile the way!
Picture
Myself and a few of my girls
Many of the students are struggling with homelessness, abuse, disease, and disabilities such as fetal alcohol syndrome.  They live in cramped homes in the township with multitudes of people around them all the time.  The speak Afrikaans in the classroom, but are learning English.  The older ones are more fluent than the young, but luckily grade one goes slow enough that even in Afrikaans, I can generally follow along.  

The children are academically much lower than my grade one's in Canada.  These students are half why through their year and are still doing numbers to 10 and counting.  Many have needs that simply can't be met.  In Canada these children would be identified and tested, here the teacher just struggles to get things done and there's no such thing as a special needs student.

Another thing that shocked me was how physical the children are with one another.  They will slap, hit, push, shove, and generally fight but there are rarely tears.  It's just how they've be brought up.  With me they are all hugs.

I am in awe of the teachers here.  With such large classes and little support they give their all each and every day.  They struggle to maintain control and have so many needs.  I don't envy them, but I sure do admire and respect them.  I'm learning so much by watching and helping them. 

Next post... SAFARI!!
3 Comments
Cate Pedersen
7/25/2010 10:03:47 am

Pictures are amazing, Brandy! My kids enjoyed discussing your adventure and the differences between the schools here and there. Hope you had a great experience. Cate

Reply
Michelle
7/25/2010 01:30:16 pm

Hello Brandy!
What a fantastic experience so far. Beautiful pictures - especially of you and some of the children. Now that we are back from holidays, I'm going to be following what you're up to each day. It's been such an interesting and heartfelt read of each of your entries. I think what you're doing is amazing and the experiences must be something else. Can't wait to see and read about your safari trip!
Take care.

Michelle

Reply
Minnie
7/28/2010 12:20:18 am

Shoes, penguins, paddywagons, orientations, schools and safaris! My goodness, what haven't you done in the week you've been there??? I am completely in AWE in all that you do... You are an amazing person, my friend...

Reply



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