Ongoing AfterSchool Tutoring for 70 orphans in BIH

Project: "Afterschool program" at the "Dom porodica" Zenica orphanage
Report Period: April – June 2015

User: 6 - 19 years old

Number of instructors: 12

Like every quarter, the Afterschool program at Zenica orphanage is divided into several groups determined on the need of the children. For some, we are organizing classes to help with their homework’s or exams and for others we organize extracurricular activities to keep them entertained and help develop new hobbies to assure that they are not bored and that they stay out of trouble.

1)  Lessons to help with homework and exams

In April, many students were attending extra lessons from different subjects because end of the year was approaching when they had upcoming exams. Most of them had troubles with math especially students who were graduating high school and middle school. One of the students who goes to high school Bakir and does not know much of math regularly comes to extra lessons. His biggest problem is that he doesn’t follow lesson nor does he writes anything down. Three instructors worked regularly with Bakir every weekday from for an hour to prepare him for his exams. After each lesson he would get homework, which he finished until next lesson. Bakir once told us that he would like to enter university but we have to continue with the lessons to increase his chances of getting accepted. Not only Bakir was extraordinary and interested in extra lessons but also Ajla, who was graduating from primary school and asked for help with English because she needed to improve her grades to pass with a B. Our volunteer Sejla helped her with reading and translating texts. Next week Ajla came to thank Sejla for helping her. What was most moving was seeing children helping each other improve their knowledge and pass exams. It was great pleasure to watch them helping each other.

12 volunteers were involved in extra lessons in different areas teaching 34 primary and 15 high school students.

2) Creative workshop

One of the highlights of Afterschool program are creative workshops which gather all kids in the orphanage and everybody loves to participate. There were some high school beneficiaries like Fehim, Adem, Abdurahman, Mirnes who came to see and learn basics about decorating. This workshop serves as a real relaxation and something completely different from the subjects they take in school. Students were fully engaged in decorating and making presents for their care takers and teachers. Some kids were cutting and preparing material, some were cleaning bottles while some brought hair-driers and dried almost finished products. Many care takers asked our volunteers to organize workshop for them, too because they really liked what the children were making. We showed kids how they can earn some money by making and decorating different products, which can be sold. In one of these workshops there were also Roma children, who were recently admitted to orphanage. This was a great way to help them meet their new friends with whom they will be living at the orphanage.

3) Computer workshop

One of the aims of this workshop was to gather high school student who hardly come to extra lessons and to provide them with something that would be more interesting for their age group. There were about 15 children who used to be violent and aggressive while in this workshop but they were calmed and relaxed. It is well-known fact that boys enjoy computers and internet while this time they learned about different components and its functions. Many of them acquired knowledge very fast and learned how to install systems and different programs. One very interesting thing they did is that they together with their teacher matched computer parts into a box which girls previously decorated and put it in function. Kids showed their creativity and imagination once more.

4.) Music workshop

We started this workshop in April when two music teachers joined our team and expressed their will to work with kids in orphanage. Since there is a piano in the orphanage we wanted to seize it in the best way. These two teachers come on Saturdays and have workshop on piano with several kids individually. Four kids participate in this workshop. Since this workshop requires individual approach, we planned to involve more kids next month which means each month there will be new kids added to this workshop. We want all kids interested in music to see how it works and also to be musically educated.

5.) Free activities

In May, we had many free activities like quizzes, going out, visiting Philosophical university in Zenica, going for a trip to Visoko and Sarajevo. Kids enjoyed educational quizzes especially when they compete for awards. In May we took them out to a coffee shop together with two care takers and had a great time. After that we visited Philosophical University because many kids are interested how does it look to go to college, how are the teachers and being a student. We entered some lectures and kids were greeted by teachers.

At the sport centre, it was organized a Kids day and we brought 35 kids there for ceremony. In June we organized a trip for volunteers and some kids who attended workshops regularly to Visoko and Sarajevo. We visited famous factory in Visoko, Vispak and saw the process of food production. We had great time there and in Sarajevo.

6.) Graduation

Since four of our Afterschool program beneficiaries were graduating, we planned to organize something for them. Well, we talked to some girls, students who are extremely good at make-up to come to the orphanage and help these girls get ready for graduation. We bought some make-up material and our volunteers put make-up and different hair styles on our students. They were so happy about that and liked it very much.

Overall results this quarter

-       All students attending Afterschool program passed in all subjects with good marks.

-       Kids learned how to decorate different products and how to make some money.

-       High school boys got knowledge in IT and got more interested in it.

-       Kids visited our famous factory and saw how people work and produce our food.

-       Students got awarded after they accomplished good marks at school and in behavior

-       Several students learned basics of playing piano and we hope to continue adding more children over the summer   

        break.

Plans for the afterschool program during the summer vacation

-       Volleyball tournament

-       Iftar during the month of Ramadan

-       Music lessons

-       Creative workshops

-       Drama club

Project location: Orphanage in Zenica

Period: January- March 2015

Beneficiaries: 6 to 17 years old living in Zenica orphanage

Volunteers/teachers: 11

Activities performed during this quarter:

1)     Creative workshops

In the past quarter, the high school students had an exhibition of all products that they made during our workshops. Because there was so much interest and creativity shown among the beneficiaries, we decided to continue this activities because it brought beneficiaries regularly to classroom, their behavior improved and we noticed their creativity improve. We were also happy to see that the workshop attracted more boys each time. The results noticed with this workshop showed that the beneficiaries improved their work, and with help of their instructors they now make perfect jewelry boxes, plates, boards and vases. One of beneficiaries made such a lovely box for her mother’s birthday. Another girl who was a rebel and refused to cooperate with anyone is now one of the most active beneficiaries in these creative workshops. She has made many boxes, drawings with different symbols (flowers, stars, hearts, etc). She is really trying hard and all the caretakers have noticed her improvement in behavior and towards school. Most importantly, she is no longer aggressive. Several girls who will soon graduate from high school want to continue with this workshop because they realized that they can earn some money which will help them a lot when they leave orphanage. Some of these beautiful creations will also be sold at the Bosana Annual Benefit in Los Angeles on May 30^th. This is a way for the children to show donors the beautiful creations they made, but also made additional income.

2)     BIH Independence Day

This quarter, we also wanted to commemorate and teach the beneficiaries about the BIH Independence Day, which is on March 1^st. In order to inform the beneficiaries about the statehood day of our country we planned and successfully organized a party for them. We invited additional volunteers to help us organize fun and educational games and to manage the party. We also bought some snacks, candies and juices, as well as props to help us teach the beneficiaries interesting facts about their country and this day. There were about 30 beneficiaries of different ages waiting for us. They were so happy and excited to see us bringing something for them.  As part of their lesson, we handed papers and colors and asked beneficiaries to draw something that they felt represented and showed their love and appreciation towards their country. We gave them about 15 minutes and said that 3 best papers will be awarded. After they finished, we collected their papers and to complete the fun party, we also played karaoke. We were delighted by beneficiaries’ creativity and selecting the best three was very hard. Beneficiaries who were awarded were beneficiaries from 6th grade, high school, and 1^st grade.

3)     A visit to American corner

To keep beneficiaries creativity up and to make sure that they behave, we always promise them that we will take them to certain places if they actively participate and keep on studying. Since they were good this semester, we decided to organize some games and activities together with the director of city’s library. First, the director showed us all the rooms and introduced benefits of visiting place like these, as reading books. We stayed at the American corner for about two hours where the beneficiaries had a great time using computers and reading books. There were also some newspapers which teenagers liked and they were so happy to get a chance to spend some free time here. Later on, the director of the library brought us some snacks and juices and gave some books to the beneficiaries. Visits like these are very beneficial to the participants because it gets them out of the orphanage, builds their interest in books and appreciation for various cultures, literatures, etc.

4)     A visit to Input centre

As part of the afterschool program, we also organized a short-term/intensive course of English language calling it a “Week of English” with a teacher from the “Input Centre”, a co-partner and collaborator of Bosana on this Afterschool program. We brought 11 beneficiaries who were between 10 and 18 years old willing to learn to speak English. They had a great time with the teacher while meeting every day for one week (8^th-13^th March). The course included video materials, flash cards, body language lessons and games. Beneficiaries enjoyed the class and for most of them their English drastically improved, mainly getting them rid of the fear of speaking a different language.

5)     A visit to Shopping centre

As mentioned, we like to take the beneficiaries out of the orphanage so not all of their classes are in the same room. Diversity breeds creativity and interest and so we try our best to take them outside. We promised the beneficiaries if they are well behaved that we will take them to a nearby shopping center that all the beneficiaries really like because it’s the most popular meeting place in the city. We treated the selected beneficiaries to a beverage in a coffee shop where we carried conversations about their life activities and plans. Beneficiaries were very curious about different life topics so we talked about going out, not staying too late, the disadvantages of smoking and drink and bad habits in general. We also talked to them about being careful about meeting new people. They really enjoyed this alot.

6)     Ongoing afterschool activities in the orphanage three times a week

This is our ongoing program that we give beneficiaries continuously in the orphanage helping them with their homework, exams and any other issues that they have in school. This quarter there were no problems to report with beneficiaries and their school. Since it’s the beginning of the new semester, there were no important exams, which is why this quarter we focused mainly on fun activities.

Results accomplished during this quarter

• Beneficiaries had organized extracurricular activities outside of the orphanage: they visited the American corner, Input Centre and Shopping Centre.
• Beneficiaries learned how to make different drawings using decoupage techniques, jewelry boxes, pencil holders and colorful cutting boards. They also read books and further learned to speak English.

Many Beneficiaries who attend our workshops also started asking questions about college and life after orphanage. Because many of them plan to enroll in college we will dedicate one class towards speaking to the beneficiaries what its like to go to college, how to apply and to help them best chose the right college for them. We feel honored that many of these beneficiaries would not think of college or have the grades to pursue their dreams if it was not for this afterschool program that prepared them to even start thinking about their