After School Life Skills and Education Programme

We offer a varied and high quality after school life skills and education programme for Grade R, primary and high school learners. After school care takes place every day during the school term from 14h30-17h00. It takes the form of learning support from Mondays to Thursdays, and creative activities and play on Fridays. The facilitators are part of our Youth Development Programme (see below). They are teacher assistants during the mornings at the local primary school. This ensures continuity and appropriate support between school activities and after school care.

This programme is partly funded by the Western Cape Department of Social Development. It has three aspects that share one objective.

Objective

To provide a safe, stimulating environment for children (who may otherwise be unsupervised during these times) in the afternoons and during school holidays where they are actively supported to perform well at school, increase their well-being, and be caring, active members of their community.

1. High School learners

Our current High School learners attend one of several schools in George. However, they do not receive afterschool support at these schools.

Activities

• After-school classes supporting school work such as assistance with projects, computer training, access to computers and the Internet.
• Daily nutritious meal.
• Weekly extra lesson support at York High School.
• Career and vocational guidance and support to Grade 11 and 12 learners, including support to apply to tertiary educations; and for bursaries, learnerships, etc.
• Creative Fridays: arts and craft, music, sport, gardening and dancing. Up to 15 volunteers support this weekly set of activities.

2. Grade R and Primary School learners

Our current Grade R and Primary School learners come from Touwsranten and Hoekwil Primary Schools.

Activities

• After-school classes supporting numeracy, literacy, life skills, sport and creativity.
• Daily nutritious meal.
• Extra reading supported by volunteers, mostly from the Hoekwil retirement village.
• Creative Fridays: arts and craft, music, sport, gardening and dancing. Again, up to 15 volunteers support this weekly programme.

3. Themed holiday programmes for learners

A wide range of day care programmes is provided through school holidays for all ages of children in our communities. We undertake these (and our Creative Fridays) in partnership with key stakeholders such as the George Local Municipality and volunteers.

Activities

• Fun-filled activities that focus on life skills and building self-confidence, as well as general awareness such as caring for our environment. Volunteers support these activities.
• Daily nutritious meal.