Literacy Programme

The new government in South Africa recognises the problem, but simply does not have the resources required to undo the generations of inequality that has caused this. When we saw the desperate need, and as I (Rachel), am a qualified teacher with experience in both teaching English and adult literacy in particular, we believed that this would a very worthwhile project in which to be involved.
Not far from where we live there is what used to be called a squatter's camp. In the days of apartheid most black people were not permitted to live in the cities in South Africa. However many of them left the rural areas in a desperate attempt to find work. They built shacks out of cardboard and plastic bags near the cities and every now and then they would be knocked down by the authorities trying to clear the area. Now these squatter's camp have become classed as "informal settlements" with thousands of tin shacks huddled together but still with few basic amenities like running water, electricity or proper sewage disposal. It is in one of these informal settlements that we work at least three days of the week with our different projects. There are approximately 40,000 people living there. We have been working with a total of 80 adults in both the literacy scheme and a special project for the unemployed.
Much of the material available for adult literacy is designed for first world countries. However after extensive research and were able to find an extremely practical and Africanised course books. We were given the use of a classroom converted from a metal freight container where we teach .

Our students range from teenagers to old people, from the unemployed to plumbers and taxi drivers. We even have mothers who come with their daughters so the they can help each other. All of them are extremely enthusiastic and really want to learn and what is more we have a lot of fun together. We make sure we have plenty of action in the classroom with paired work, role play and games as well as lots of written work. We also sing gospel songs which they really enjoy. You should hear our classes sing "Jesus the Light!" as the metal container classroom fills with joyful voices and beaming faces.

The quicker learners help the slower ones and gradually everyone is making progress. The day everyone learned to sign their name was a momentous one . As I asked each to come forward and sign their names on the board , the whole class clapped and cheered. That day we had a visitor from the local University come to observe the class. Afterwards she commended us on how well the students were progressing and also for the fact that we have a strong Christian emphasis in the classes. We always start and end with prayer and have included gospel literature as course work. All of them have prayed to receive Jesus and many of them are witnessing to their friends. One young lad is a very enthusiastic witness and now has a group of twenty others with whom he has prayed with to receive Jesus. He always goes home with more posters and tracts to give out. Another girl at the unemployed project wins 4 or 5 souls every week. We sometimes have prayer requests for different individuals which can be quite an eye opener as we are asked to pray against witch doctors "muti" (spells) or for very serious personal problems. When we asked for a prayer requests recently, one girl piped up with "When you prayed for me to get a job I found one" and everyone clapped and thanked God. One man came to the class a few times while he was staying temporarily at the squatter camp and had to return to the infamous township of Alexandra. I gave him a handful of tracts to give out in Alexandra and he looked at me half ashamed and said "What if people laugh at me?" I said "OK ,just give them back to me" But he would not let them out of his grasp, especially as the rest of the class was looking at him with expressions of 'what is wrong with this chap ?' and then he said "No, don't take them back ,I'll do it!"
As many of them are real hardship cases we also distribute food donated by local companies as often as we can. We have also been able to give clothes to children of the unmarried mothers.
As part of the special project for the unemployed we have taught them different methods of how to find a job, how to write a curriculum vitae, how to write letters. It has even been possible for us to assist in arranging interviews for some of them and provide them with vocational training.
At the end of each term approximately three months , we give out diplomas to all the students who pass the examination. They are absolutely thrilled to have their hard work recognised. We were told at the start that with literacy classes numbers usually drop off quite radically but we have found that our students are keeping their enthusiasm and turn up whatever the weather. In the winter we freeze in the tin container and in the summer we boil and when the huge hailstorms occur ,which are very common here, we stop and wait for them to pass as the noise on the roof is deafening. But whatever the weather, to see the happy faces of the students as we learn , sing and laugh together makes it all worth while!
I would like to close with the first "essay" one of our students wrote:

Dear Teacher read my story. This letter is from Callum. I am very happy to writing this for you my Lord. Please bless me to follow you in my life because I already seeing you in my life. I knock the door. I open my heart for you. I love you so much. Please HELP! Bye, bye, Callum

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Stories from some of our students.

Constance had to stop school at 13 when her father died and her mother was not working. There was no money for her education.

Tryphina never went to school. She lived on a farm and worked from an early age.

Jimmy - also never attended school. He lived on a farm and the farmer insisted that all the children work without wages. His family hid the fact that there were other brothers and cousins so unlike him they were able to go to school. If the farmer had found out they too would have all been forced to work.