My First Day at Kiddies Corner

My first day at Kiddies Corner was a day that I will never forget. A lot of preparation and anticipation had gone into the first full day at Kiddies Corner. What would the children be like? How would they act around me? And how would I act around them?

I definitely wasn’t sure what to expect. But my first few moments at Kiddies Corner showed me just how my time would be. The children were so happy to see us; they would run over and greet us with a hug with big smiles on their faces, they all seemed genuinely happy to see us, which is so comforting and nice to see. Although I have only been there for a few days, I already feel and can see that the children at Kiddies Corner will remain with me forever. I am starting to see individual personalities coming out, none of the children are the same, they are all amazing in their own way, and I can’t wait to get to know them all in my remaining time to come. I really look forward to seeing the children’s progress in their learning.

Teaching the children is such a warm and fulfilling feeling, just to know what level some children are at and being able to work with them on that is a pleasure to be involved with and I can’t wait to carry out this experience to continue on working with the kids.

Hoana Skipworth – Masiphumelele Volunteer

My First Day at Kiddies Corner

A New Role for a New Year

My new role as Coordinator at Ikhayalethemba has meant that I have had to learn a lot this week! We have started with all new volunteers - Mairead, Lilly, Elyse and Hannah. We’ve had a wonderful time getting to know the children and discovering their skills. Learning all the names has been a challenge at times, but we’re getting there.

We’ve introduced a new morning circle time as a way to start the day and we can already see the children responding to the morning roll call and hello song. It’s been great to see the toddlers and special needs children keen to join in with this routine too!

It was a really hot start to the week but once the day got a little cooler, one of our favourite activities for the week has been the obstacle course.  We set up a course that the children could move, crawl, jump and run around. We were pleased to see the toddlers  keen to climb through the colourful tunnels and to see how well some of the children could skip with their skipping ropes.

Today for our baking task the children decorated a cake for our Project Manager JT. JT had a great surprise to see the children in their party hats singing Happy Birthday. She loved the card they made and they certainly enjoyed making it.  We’re sure it will be a memorable birthday for her.

We’re all looking forward to next week, with some great activities planned and we’re keen to keep working on our morning circle to make it a really positive start to each day at Ikhayalethemba.

Cheryl Martin - Ikhayalethemba Coordinator

A New Role for a New Year

Tales of Christmas in Westlake

Twas the week before Christmas and all through The Hope Centre not a creature was stirring except for the 12 children stood on the grass in front of an array of parents, siblings, teachers and one random girl from across the road who appeared early on.

Our volunteers had spent the last two weeks preparing the children for our end of year Christmas party. During the event our partner Pastor Brian of the Westlake Baptist Church was able to thank all of the parents for their support and thank GVI for our input in what has been a successful venture so far. We had been making decorations, necklaces, cards and of course practising a few carols including the obligatory “Silent Night” and “Jingle Bells”. The event went really well. The children, including the random girl from across the road, sang beautifully and were joined in the finale by all the parents, who also looked to be enjoying themselves, or at least the mince pies!

The show was stolen by an outstanding appearance by Santa Claus, who in this case bore a striking resemblance to our Programs Manager Jim Bacon, though none of the kids seemed to see it so perhaps I am wrong! Either way he was warmly welcomed, sung to and then hugged by all the kids at once. Presents were given to all of the Hope children and also brothers, sisters and of course the random girl from across the road. Everyone left with a smile on their faces, a song in their hearts and in the case of Evance, one of our 5 year olds, a pocket bulging with mince pies! It was a fitting end to a great year for us here and a lovely way for us to say thank you to the children, parents and also the volunteers here.

From all at GVI, we hope you had a Merry Christmas and we wish you a Happy New Year! Fingers crossed that we can move into the new year with as much success as we have had in this past one, and that those students who are moving on do so with some good luck and maybe a bit more education than they had before.

Nick Herrick – Fish Hoek Project Manager

Tales of Christmas in Westlake

The Food Plate

Think of a vegetable. Now think how to draw it. Now think of five more. Not so easy is it, and yet that is the challenge that we set ourselves this week with the healthcare project.

In order to show the kids what they should be eating we decided to teach them Michelle Obama’s food plate. One evening of hilarious “art” work and then a morning of attempting to explain the difference between a fruit and a vegetable, and why you shouldn’t eat too many grain products to children with a vague grasp of basic English. Yet this group of 3-5 year olds seemed to understand almost straight away.

The staff of the educare in which we are working have been fantastic and genuinely interested in bettering themselves and their children. They have been happy to ask questions ranging from “What do I do if a child is choking?” to “What is that? A tree?” It was broccoli, and an excellent drawing too!

The lovely thing about this project is that, despite the short term, each project only lasts for two weeks, you are able to see changes happening around you. One girl would bring in only crisps (chips) for lunch for the first few days but after the workshop on healthy eating the carers talked to her mother and she had rice and vegetables, potatoes and chicken and some sort of pasta dish in her lunch box. When you can have this sort of impact, and make a real difference to someone’s future, it is the best thing in the world!

Margaret Whitehead – Health Workshops Volunteer

The Food Plate

Cornelia's Letter

                                                                                               

2^nd December 2011

Dear GVI

I write this letter to express my thanks for your hard work. You come to my centre as a blessing. You manage to make my centre a succeeding one. Parents are so impressed with the impact you have brought to the lives of their children, they can’t close their mouths and they are very happy as well as me. I’ll never forget the miracles of God because I believe it’s only him who showed you this place.

Looking forward to working with you next year, it has been so wonderful. Have a Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year. May God bless the whole management and staff.

All from Cornelia and family and staff

 

Cornelia Musekela – Rainbow Centre Project Partner

Cornelia's Letter