A day in the life of an average teenager living in Heideveld

 A typical scene in the Cape Flats, no work and no where to go.

The day begins as usual, getting up, get dressed, have breakfast (if there is any) and wash ready for the day. Perhaps you are fortunate enough that you father is around and has work so there is some toast for you in the morning but for many in our community and other communities like Heideveld, children grow up in broken homes where money is little and there is not enough for the basic needs of milk and bread.

A small boy posing with 'gun' shaped hands, guns are used every day here in gang fights

On your way to school your stomach is grumbling from hunger and already it is hard to concentrate, let alone focus on school work but you are on your way anyway. On the way to school you see drug peddlers (sellers) standing on the street corner, some of them so you they should be in their way to school with you, but there they are selling their wares. In our communities there is a lack of role models to guide our children in the right direction. For some families there is no money for school fees or clothes and so for these parents they often keep their child at home which inevitably leads to the children mixing with the wrong people and ultimately ending up on the street. Children as young as 12 are in this life and when they are surrounded in a place with high unemployment, poor education and little opportunites for them, selling drugs is a means of providing for their families and buy the nice things they desire; clothes, cars and nice food. For them it is easy money wand what starts as a ‘favor’ quickly turns into a gang and crime driven life that can be impossible to get out of.

This all sounds depressing but GCU is trying to change that and break this cycle piece by piece. We strive to support these very children through the good times and the bad by giving them an outlet for their anger and aggression through sport. Channel that energy positively and support them in their education giving them time and devotion showing them that they can achieve everything they want in life. GCU provides these children with concrete and positive role model that will never abandon them. The community knows that GCU is here to support them and guide them, we understand that we can only help those who want it but we know that by doing this work we will be able to make a difference in their lives.

By Cazlin Fleurs

GCU U/7 coach

         GCU coach Gogo with a player and their medal

International House Cape Town welcomes GCU!

  Gavin showing us around International House Cape Town

GCU has teamed up with a world renowned language school in Cape Town to assist our tutors and librarians in teaching skills. Our first meeting was held on Wednesday where we received a warm welcome from the IH staff and teachers. After a cup of tea, a biscuit and a bit of mingling our tour began with Gavin, an incredible guy with a great sense of humor. For me it was inspiring to see how a professional school is set up, their classrooms, their displays and the energy that radiated from everyone in the school. We had the opportunity to hear all about how the school runs and the students they receive from all around the world.

GCU staff and IH teacher get an opportunity to exchange ideas

We were also able to give them an idea of GCU and our projects here in Heideveld. The teachers were eager to learn about how we manage the diverse number and abilities of students and the kind of lessons we give, it was comforting to me that we really are going in the right direction. It is a rare opportunity that we are able to share ideas from professionals it felt good to talk to people who have firsthand experience in the teaching field and be given tips on how to improve our teaching and lessons. We are all excited for our relationship with IH Cape Town and the opportunities it will bring to the children in our community and our GCU family.

By Avron

GCU Tutor

    

Susan getting our feedback on our needs

Meet Zeno Jacobs

My name is Zeno Jacobs and I am a matric pupil at Beaulieu College in Kyalami, Gauteng.  As part of the President’s Award Gold level I was required to do five days of consecutive community service, and so my week at Woodlands Primary School began.  Working in the library, I read stories with the children, drew pictures, played games, and held a workshop on basic art and drama skills with the after-school tutoring group.  It was an amazing and truly humbling experience, which allowed me to see that even in a community suffering under the strains of drugs, gang-violence and poverty, there is hope.  Through reading, these children are provided with an escape from the difficulties they face in day-to-day life, and relish in the opportunity to discover the power of imagination.  It is wonderful to see that their interest in reading is vast, and seems to be continuously growing with the help of the staff and volunteers here, particularly Jennifer, their beloved librarian.  My time working with GCU and the Woodlands library has touched me deeply, and I hope to return in the future.  I urge everyone to lend a hand and help this invaluable project in any way they can.  We take a lot for granted in our lives and reading is something that is in short supply. However, through GCU and the Woodlands Library we can help keep literature alive in this community that so desperately longs for, and needs it.

By Zeno Jacobs
GCU volunteer













GCU would like to thank Zeno for all his hard work this week it has truely been a pleasure to have him. He has been a huge hit with all the students and they are all sad to see him go but we hope he can return next year and visit us again. We wish him all the best in his award and matric!

The GCU team

GCU visits St Theresa Primary!

 

This week we travelled to St Theresa primary with one mission in our minds to bring sport back to there’s young ones

The aim of this tournament was to bring sports back to schools and give learners some fun which they so rightfully deserve. The learners were all very excited when we approached them. There are so many talented young footballers out there but they are not being recognised. These kids all love soccer and through soccer we try and teach them there is a life after soccer so if you do make it pro and retire one day you would have something to follow up on such as a degree.

Through sport we can accomplish so much more and these young ones are the key to accomplishing a future without gangsterism and drugs these kids are our future so why don’t we give them the opportunities that we never had.

The school were more than happy to have us there and we got so many compliments all round at that moment all you can do is be proud because you know you’re making an impact in someone’s life. The schools and learners were so excited to have us they could barely even wait to start the tournament. When the tournament started we all were excited to see some new talent, all the schools brought there part and just the fact that they allowed us to bring the tournament to there school we felt privileged to be there and watch our future footballers

We came to the end of an exciting journey playing the final which two teams(Super stars vs airlines) worked hard to play in. The atmosphere at the finals was a heated affair with both teams wanting the main prize. Goal came from nowhere and the final result was 3-2 to Super stars.

When we had the presentation all the learners and teachers gathered outside in the quad to enjoy the last moments with everyone who participated in the tournament, we handed out medals to the winning team as well as the runners up.

We also gave the school a small award just to show our appreciation for them giving us the opportunity to work with such amazing students

Winners: SUPER STARS

Runners up: AIRLINES

Player of the tournament: Elias

All these young ones need is to be nurtured and put on the right course in the right direction we as GCU  coaches are very proud   to be able to bring this tournaments to the different schools as we continue to go forward in faith GOD bless.

 

By Logan and Gogo

GCU coaches

Woodlands library is in full swing!

Library Assistants, Laaiqa and Sylivia with Jennifer

Woodlands library is proudly reading stories to +/- 700 students, providing support to those who need it and opening the library doors at every possible turn to invite children into the world of stories, imagination and information. Wednesday 8th August saw the official opening ceremony with all the educators, grade R, the library team and lay minister Gerald Adams to mark the occasion. After a short prayer and a speech by Mrs Davids, Grade 1 educator, the ribbon was cut and everyone was invited to see the library and its fresh look. I think I can safely say that everyone was impressed with the way the library looked and you could feel that this is really it, the real deal this project is growing.

2 weeks have passed since that day and the library is going from strength to strength. The children have embraced the space and love their story time, whilst the older grades are starting to utilise the space to assist their project work. Break times and after school are now popular times for children to come and read independently with the library bursting at the seams. Grade 6A were awarded the library certificate this week for an outstanding performance in the library quiz and behaviour that really did them proud. Read next weeks blog to find out what the children get up to this week!


By Jennifer Pickett
GCU

Volunteer Story: Nora from Germany

Hi. My name is Nora and I study tourism management back home in Germany. I spent half a year in Cape Town to work as an intern at the Tour Operator Terra Nova. During this time I got the chance to attend and help at several CSR projects, especially at Woodlands Primary for GCU. Unfortunately I only got to go there a couple times, but it still was an awesome experience.

Reading and playing games with the girls at the tutoring class, which always takes place in the afternoon, was so much fun. The girls are so well-behaved and Jennifer does a great job in teaching them. Together with all the coaches from GCU they really do everything to make things better for the community and the school; if it’s painting classrooms, tutoring, soccer practice, etc. Thank you for having me and giving me the opportunity to become a little part of such a great project.

The GCU team would like to thank nora for her assistance over the past few weeks. It has been a pleasure and lots of fun having her and we wish her well in the future.

The library gets a winter clean!

With the new school term and the sad passing of our principal Mr Coert, GCU have been making a big push to spring clean the library and get it ready for its first class on Monday morning. As many of you remember the library went through a big change at the end of 2011, and whilst GCU have been utilizing the space for its educational programs it is only until now that we are able to fully open the doors to every child in Woodlands Primary.

We have 3 ladies to thank for this, Mrs Van Nikerk, Mrs Safter and Mrs Lombard. Three mums from the community have now been employed by GCU to assist us in making sure this library is in full swing. This week the ladies and my-self have been cleaning shelves, organizing books, displaying books and making the library fit for purpose for Monday morning. On the 8^th August we will officially have an opening with red ribbon, scissor and a cake to mark the occasion. Watch this space as we will update you on the progress of this exciting project and how our children respond to this new space and the stories we intend to tell.

By Jennifer Pickett