Learning Without Walls

What is Community Service Learning you ask? This is where an educational institution partakes in a program, working together with a community organization whereby the outcome is mutually beneficial to both parties. In our case Sugar Bay recently hosted two American International Schools, AIS Johannesburg and AIS Libreville, and both schools requested that their students were involved in Community Service Learning for some of their stay with us.

We were very excited at the prospect and approached our local farm school, Bongimfundo, situated between Zinkwazi and Darnall. The Headmaster, Mr. Ramgathi welcomed us with open arms. The little school has 100 pupils, five classrooms and only four teachers and it is for this reason that the Gr R's and Gr 1's are together in one classroom, as are the Gr 2's and 3's, Gr 4's and 5's plus the Gr 6's and 7's. Bongimfundo barely manages on the rather limited government budget they receive and are therefore extremely grateful for any help in whatever form it may be given. With input from the very passionate Headmaster, the Sugar Bay Management team and Counselors put together a program of how to approach the learning project from a hands-on, practical perspective.

The AIS students were split into groups and worked the different classes (with a counselor and teacher present) according to the schools regular timetable and curriculum. The students soon became aware of the challenges they were up against such as the language barrier. In the English class of thirty six Gr 4's and 5's, there are only six pupils who have mastered the spelling and understanding of the 200 plus words in their text book. Mr Ramgathi recognized what the students were up against and split the class up into smaller groups assigning one student to each group. The tutoring of five or six pupils was far easier and a few of the AIS students showed some real teaching potential.

Singing and dancing is an integral part of the African culture and Biology became a happy and vibrant affair when one of the AIS students produced her guitar. While she strummed, the children sang and danced, at the same time learning the different parts of the body to the catchy tune.

In the maths class a more practical, hands on approach was used. One student was a great hit when she realized they were not making headway by writing addition, subtraction and division on the blackboard. She then called up ten pupils, stood them in a line at the front of the class and then added more pupils, subtracted some and divided the remaining pupils...all to an enthusiastic chorus from the rest of the class as they could see and understand the maths being created before them.

During the sports period, all social and cultural differences were forgotten in the excitement of a game of soccer, netball or the educational outdoor games we know so well at Sugar Bay. Pupils, students and counselors became one team in the throws of the outdoor activities. Lunchtime was also a time of sharing as everyone ate the regular lunch served at the school. Granted, it may not have been to the taste of some pallets, but no one went hungry.

It was very evident by the end of our Sugar Bay Community Service Learning program that the AIS student's participation at Bongimfundo Primary had a life changing effect on them. They came away with a better understanding of the social issues these young scholars, and the community face, plus a better understanding of themselves and the difference they can make. They were also challenged to use critical thinking and problem solving skills which in turn helped build their own independence, confidence and self esteem.

Apart from the fact that there are a few Bongimfundo pupils pronouncing their English words with an American accent, they received three days of alternative learning involving a more practical and hands on approach. The excitement, enthusiasm and participation they showed was testimony in itself as to their encompassing of the Sugar Bay Community Service Learning program. It was a delight to witness them grasping the intricacies of subtraction and division, or how to spell a word, or the fun of recycling and saving our planet.

Each day ended with assembly where all the children would gather and offer up their daily thanks in prayer, after which they sang their appreciation and praises to Sugar Bay and the AIS students, an amazing rendition that bought many a tear to the eye. These children have next to nothing, and yet it takes next to nothing to make them happy and smile...more than can be said for those children who want for nothing!

Kathie Day - Sugar Bay Resort Manager