We need your support to help children in Walmer, Gqeberha (Port Elizabeth), South Africa, through the SHINE project, which IRFF UK fully supports. Walmer is a very poor area, and SHINE operates out of two bright yellow containers on the grounds of Walmer Primary School.
South Africa is now the most unequal country globally, and literacy levels are amongst the worst. 8 out of 10 Grade 4 (9-10-year-olds) learners cannot read for meaning in South Africa. Since the pandemic, children have lost a year of schooling, and most cannot afford smartphones or Wi-Fi for online learning. According to the South African curriculum, learners must be taught in English from Grade 4.
Thus, SHINE takes Grade 3 learners and immerses them in books and reading, with comprehension, in English. Many children have not heard any English before. For one hour at a time, one volunteer sits with two learners, and the hour has four parts: 15 mins - an educational game (with anything using dice being the favourites) 15 mins - they read to us (the books reflect their lives) 15 mins - they write sentences (we use phonetic methods and we never correct their work but instead praise their brave efforts) 15 mins - they are exhausted now, so we read a book to them.
In 2022, IRFF UK supported SHINE in teaching 60 children. The SHINE Teaching Centre also serves as a charity venue for learners needing academic resources, medical assistance, emotional support, and friendship. IRFF UK sends funds every other month to help cover the costs of school books, ink cartridges for a printer, and school shoes and clothing for children.
We urge you to support the SHINE project and make a difference in the lives of these children. With your help, we can provide them with the education and resources they need to build a brighter future.
Thank you for your consideration.
