2015 Three2Six Holiday Program: Information Pack Thank you for your interest in participating in the Three2Six Holiday Program in Johannesburg, South Africa in August 2015. We rely on volunteers like to you to run these programs and really appreciate you offering your time. Please find some more information here about the program. What is Three2Six? Three2Six is an afternoon educational bridging programme for refugee children who have been refused access to state schools. Although the South African constitution allows for the education of ALL children, be they refugee or South African, the reality is very different. Most schools have inadequate resources; refugee families are often unable to pay school fees and other related expenses; most of the children do not speak English when they arrive in South Africa; and sometimes families arrive at odd times during the year when school registration is no longer possible. The Three2Six education bridging project was founded and is managed by Sacred Heart Marist College in Observatory, Johannesburg. It hosts 150 children from Grade 1-6, 25 in each year level and runs from Mondays to Fridays from 3pm to 6pm in the afternoons, during the school terms. There are also two classes currently operating out of another local school. The project offers a curriculum with a strong focus on literacy and numeracy but also offers life skills when possible. Most of the children come from extremely poor homes, and most live in inner city Johannesburg, in small spaces shared with several people. Often one family occupies one room in an apartment, shared with other families. The children do not attend regular state schools, spend much of their time indoors and receive very little stimulation. The Three2Six project partly alleviates this situation by providing 200 of these children with three hours of education per day. This is not a full school day and the children miss out on other types of learning, including sporting and creative activities. They also do not often have the opportunity to go on outings and experience the city in a more positive and meaningful way. Three2Six Holiday Programs For the last four years, we have run a holiday program during the August school holidays. These programs were a phenomenal success. The children were able to revise the literacy and numeracy content and to take part in artistic, sports and cultural activities. Since the usual time is so short (3pm to 6pm during school days), this was a valuable opportunity for the children to catch up, learn new things, and have fun. The feedback from the teachers after the holiday program was overwhelmingly positive and many of the children and parents have asked for the holiday programme to take place again. The holiday program also offers the teachers (who are themselves refugees) an opportunity to earn supplementary income and engage with different types and styles of learning. We hope this year to also offer a professional development opportunity for our refugee teachers through the provision of an Australian mentor teacher, although this will depend on the availability of volunteer teachers. The holiday program in 2015 will run from 10 21 August. The period comprises 10 days (two full weeks), although the students will not attend on 10 August as this is a public holiday, so the day will be used as an orientation and training day for program volunteers. The program will run for four hours per day, from 9.00am to 1.00pm, however volunteers are required to arrive at 8.30am to assist with set up and preparation and we are likely to stay an extra hour or two each day to plan and prepare for the following day. Children will be transported to and from the project by Sacred Heart buses as usual. The total number of children catered for will be approximately 150.
What can you expect from our Holiday Program? Our 2015 holiday program will provide opportunities for the students to revise some of their literacy and numeracy work, but the focus will be on providing the sorts of activities that we can t usually offer during the term. There will be arts/crafts sessions, sports lessons per class each week, excursions, fun reading, meals and ipad classes. In addition we are hoping to have a focus on science learning and activities for this programme, given that this is an area of learning that the children have no access to at other times. At the moment we are looking at one science week and one arts week, engaging with local science institutions and artist. We will place you with one class, so you ll have a chance to get to know some of the students quite well and will fall into a routine with your class. In each classroom we aim to have the teacher, one Aussie volunteer and two three local highschool volunteers. Often we also add a local uni student into the mix too, if we get them! This provides a great mix and good support for each classroom, where the kids can have adequate supervision but also support and fun! We provide lunch each day onsite for all children and volunteers. You ll be expected to get involved in all the different activities that they do. With the more normal class sessions like numeracy and literacy the teacher will guide you in how to help. Often you ll just move around the class and if students are having trouble understanding or completing thier task then you can help them. These sessions are not every day and are only half an hour at a time. We have also in the past asked volunteers to each lead one particular session and move around to each classroom when this session is scheduled eg: ipads, dance, craft, nutrition, wildlife you tube clips and quiz class. We select these based on the particular skills and interests of our volunteers and it also provides the opportunity to interact with each of the grades for a session. Let us know if there is anything you would be particularly interested in leading. Note: if you are a teacher then please discuss with us the possibility of being a mentor to one of our refugee teachers. This will involve team teaching in the classroom each day and also having an hour each day after the program finishes to spend with your teacher in reflective practice, capacity building and learning from each other. Commitment We prefer that our Australian volunteers commit for the full two week program, although this may be flexible. We are able to reccomend secure accomodation for the Australian group so that you can stay together and participate in a range of additional experiences outside of the Three2Six programme. This also allows for sharing of meals and time and space for preparing some of your Three2Six activities out of the programme hours. This will most likely be a house-sitting arrangment for a Sacred Heart College family. Nature of the volunteer program: independant travellers We are not a travel agent. While we are thrilled to have international volunteers participate in our program and we are happy to make some arrangements in return for your generous donation of time and energy, we understand that you are independent travellers who will organise and take responsibility for your travel and experience in South Africa. As a returning volunteer, Bec is happy to help organise some of the logistics for the group (eg accommodation options and transport) to make the program run smoothly and help those who are not familiar with Johannesburg to prepare for their time here. She is also excited to share some additional elements of Johannesburg and South Africa with you while you are volunteering with us. However, the decision to participate in any of these elements is entirely yours and in selecting to participate in the program and/or any additional suggested activities you take full responsibility for your choices, safety and any risk or liability that these activities may hold. Travel to South Africa We ask that all Australian volunteers organise to arrive in Johannesburg on Sunday 9 August. Volunteers will be met at the airport by the program coordinator Bec Bromhead and transported to 2015 Three2Six holiday programme: volunteer information Page 2 of 5
accomodation. When group members are confirmed they will have a chance to discuss travel details incase they would prefer to organise thier travel with other group members. Accomodation We are currently confirming an accomodation venue for group members in Johannesburg, which is close to Sacred Heart College and provides a secure and pleasant place to stay. It is very likely that this will be a family house, which includes a single/twin share room for each volunteer, shared clean bathrooms and kitchens and use of a group living space while the programme takes place. As group members are independant travellers who have opted to volunteer for the programme, there is no requirement that they have to stay at this venue, but we do recommend it for ease of group facilitation, transport and coordination. The group training and debrief sessions will be held on site at this venue or at the school. Volunteer group proposed programme We ask that all volunteers are available in Joburg on Monday 10 August for an orientation, training and preparation day as a full group. While the Three2Six holiday program makes up the key element of the two week volunteer experience, we have developed a suggested programme below, with additional options for those who wish to participate. Our experience is that previous volunteer groups really enjoyed the opportunity to engage with other parts of the South African community and activities while they are visiting! All additional elements will need to be covered by participants, but for the project visits there is no cost and the other local museums/attractions will not be more than $10. The weekend trip to a Game Lodge in Pilansburg is highly recommended! This is aprox 4 hours drive from Joburg and the cost for the full weekend, including transport, twin accomodation, all meals (not drinks) and game drives is approximatley $250 - $300per person (TBC). We are looking to book the following lodge, or something similar, but this will be confirmed when the group is finalised: http://www.blackrhinogamelodge.com/index.html We have used this lodge twice for previous groups and everyone has loved it! Week One Week Two Monday 10 August 326 programme, Vinnies soup kitchen Monday 17 August 326 programme, Vinnies soup kitchen Tuesday 326 programme, Aparthied Museum visit Tuesday 326 programme, Soweto visit (Nelson Mandela s house, Regina Mundi, Hector Pietersen memorial and museum) Wednesday 326 programme, downtime Wednesday 326 programme, downtime Thursday 326 programme, Constitutional Hill and Court visit Thursday 326 programme, St Mary s Children s Home visit Friday 326 programme, drive to Pilansburg Friday 326 programme, Group debrief and final dinner Saturday Pilansburg Game Drives Saturday Departures (local Joburg sites for those around) Sunday Pilansburg Game Drives and return Sunday Departures Here is a summary of the additional activities that the international volunteers experienced during the August 2013/4 programs: St Vincent de Paul Soup Kitchen - on the Monday night of each week the groups attended and participated in the soup kitchen at Braamfontein Catholic Church. The soup kitchen serves 150-200 homeless people (mainly men) each Monday night and the volunteers appreciated the opportunity to help serve the soup and bread and meet some of Johannesburg's homeless. Constitution Hill - the group spent an afternoon exploring the old jail at Constitution Hill and the new Constitutional Court located next door. They learnt about the experiences of political and criminal 2015 Three2Six holiday programme: volunteer information Page 3 of 5
prisoners during the Apartheid era, saw the cell that Mahatma Ghandi was imprisoned in and then heard about the country's post-apartheid progress and in particular it s sophisticated and world class new Constitution and associated legal process. Hector Pietersen Memorial - the group spent an afternoon at the Hector Pietersen Memorial in Soweto, learning about the role that students played in the struggle against Apartheid and in particular the riots in which Hector Pietersen was killed and the role that incident played in the struggle, eventually leading to the end of Apartheid in South Africa. Regina Mundi Catholic Church, Soweto - the group visited Regina Mundi, learning about the role it played as a central gathering point for locals of all denominations and for political rally's during the Apartheid era. The saw the remaining bucket holes and signs of the episode where Afrikaans soldiers stormed the Church, shooting bullets into the building to disperse crowds who had gathered there seeking refuge. Diepsloot visit - the group visited the township of Diepsloot to the north of Johannesburg, assisting the local St Vincent de Paul group with their fortnightly distribution of food, groceries and other assistance to families in need. This was a highlight for the volunteers, providing access and engagement with a township community and enabling them to witness the extreme conditions in which so many South Africans are forced to live but also to see the resilience and strength that so many South Africans exhibit in the face of suffering. Nelson Mandela's house and museum - the group visited Mandela's old family home in Soweto, learning more about the inspirational first South African President and seeing some of his many personal artefacts, honours and memorabilia. Apartheid Museum - the group spent a morning at this world class museum, learning about the Apartheid policies and the experience of different South Africans during that period. This was a particularly powerful visit and provided an in depth understanding of the profound impact of the Apartheid era on South Africa. Pretoria Botanical Gardens - the group spent an afternoon wandering and relaxing in the gardens, a lovely moment of calm after a busy day. They also drove through Pretoria, getting a sense for the city and popping in to visit the Australian High Commission (so that one of the members could participate in the Australian federal election!). Moyo Restaurant - the group ate out a number of times during the programme, sampling the sights and sounds of Joburg. A highlight was a meal at Moyo on Zoo Lake, where they could try local game meals including crocodile, kudu and ostrich at this lovely African themed restaurant. Simple Cost Checklist We hope you find this useful in planning for your expenditure for the duration of the two week programme. Item Cost pp Notes Flights: return to Johannesburg - Participants to source and organise Passport, vaccinations, travel insurance - Participants to source and organise Accommodation nil House sitting as suggested with group. When we ve previously organised B&B it has been aprox $300pp for the two weeks. Joburg group transport nil Sacred Heart College will provide a vehicle for the group to use and will cover the cost of fuel. Bec will drive. Meals (Monday to Friday, B fast and dinner) Aprox $100 We suggest that group members each contribute to a kitty and at the training organise a simple roster for preparing and sharing evening meals. Pay in ZAR and put 2015 Three2Six holiday programme: volunteer information Page 4 of 5
in kitty on training day. This usually also covers a few meals out Local activities eg museum visits etc Aprox $100 This would be the maximum needed. Pay individually as you go. Pilansburg weekend aprox $300 (TBC) Includes all travel, accommodation, meals and game drives. Payment details TBC. Safety Your safety is of great concern to the program organisers and we take great care in making recommendations for secure transport, accommodation and activity options. That said, things can unexpectedly happen in any experience and we are not able to guarantee individual s safety or take responsibility for your decision to participate in this program or additional suggested activities. As a volunteer with the Three2Six Holiday Program, you will be covered by Sacred Heart College s public liability insurance while onsite at the College for the daily programme. We consider you an independent traveller and you are responsible for your own health and safety for the duration of the two weeks. While we offer you suggestions for accommodation, transport and activities, we need to emphasise that you select these options at your own risk and we expect that you will undertake appropriate research and preparation to look after yourself while you are with us. We do not feel comfortable having individuals participate with us if you do not hold current and valid comprehensive international travel insurance for the period that you will be in South Africa. We also request that you have a national child protection check done in your country (in Australia this is with the AFP) to ensure the safety of our children. Please provide a copy of these two documents along with a copy of your flight details after you confirm your participation. Interested? Next steps: 1. Email Bec and let her know you are interested in participating. 2. Liaise with Bec about any questions you have about the programme. 3. Do some research and learn more about Three2Six, Sacred Heart College, Johannesburg and South Africa. You ll also find it interesting to read about the experience of refugees in South Africa and Johannesburg. Start with the Three2Six website: www.326project.weebly.com 4. We recommend that you also check DFAT s Smart Traveller site while you are researching: http://www.smartraveller.gov.au/ 5. Confirm with Bec whether you want to participate. Please note that we will close access to the group once we have received 6 confirmations (this year there are an additional 6 places reserved for teachers). We may offer one or two people to join a reserve list in case of cancellations. 6. If you have come to us through Marist connections in Australia or Germany, Bec will connect you with the local Marist volunteer office, who will also help facilitate your involvement in the program. Three2Six is part of a formal international Marist volunteering network, so we just want to link you up with them 7. Start organising your travel and preparing for an incredible experience! Contact details If you have any questions about this opportunity or would like to discuss joining us for the program, please contact Bec Bromhead at bec.bromhead@gmail.com. Bec is also happy to skype or speak by phone if that suits you better. 2015 Three2Six holiday programme: volunteer information Page 5 of 5