Education Programmes for Kids &Teachers, Cape Town

All of us at Children's Helpers Worldwide are very grateful to you for supporting ORT SA CAPE's science and robotics workshops for disadvantaged children in Cape Town, through our page on GlobalGiving. We took part in GlobalGiving's International Youth Week Campaign and were delighted to have received donations for the workshops. Thank you to each person who gave during that campaign, and who have given at other times, throughout the past few months.

ORT SA CAPE recently ran a workshop for 20 girls from the Thope Foundation. The girls were 10 and 11 years old. This workshop was sponsored by CHW's supporters. The girls were from Khayelitsha. Janet from ORT SA CAPE explained that Khayelitsha is one of the biggest and fastest growing township in South Africa. Around 70% of residents live in shacks and one in three people have to walk 200 metres or further to access water. High school results in Khayelitsha, despite recent improvement, are still some of the worst in the province of the Western Cape. We are thankful to CHW's supporters for their contributions, enabling these girls to learn about science and technology at ORT SA CAPE.

Janet gave the following updates from the workshop:

The girls were given the opportunity to take part in a variety of activities, all related to the building of robots. Robotics helps children to develop critical thinking, reading and listening skills.

The girls built a carousel wheel using Lego WeDo instructions on touchscreen computers. The aim of the project was to use technological design principles to construct the model, and to learn about, and use, different gears and axles. The facilitators assisted participants during the design and construction process, giving them clear explanations and individual support where it was required. Some mathematics skills were required to ensure that they used pieces of the correct size and dimensions.

After building the carousel wheel, the girls had to programme the function block, which in turn instructs the robot to execute various movements. The participants were instructed to programme the carousel wheel to turn in different speeds and different directions. The girls also had to use various sensors. which makes the robot sense light, movement and tilt. The girls thoroughly enjoyed the workshop and were very engaged throughout the activity.

Agxobile is a 10-year-old, Grade 5 student who is mentored by the Thope Foundation and attends their holiday programmes. She was very engaged throughout the day and exhibited excellent critical thinking and logic in the construction of the robot.

Agxobile worked with another girl, Othembele, to construct the carousel wheel. At one point, Agxobile was able to show Othembele that she had used the incorrect Lego piece and she changed the part that was not correct. After trying to programme the carousel, it did not work straight away, but Agxobile checked for errors and was able to fix the problem. The carousel worked and Agxobile and Othembele were very happy with their success!

Agxobile had this to say about the day “Thank you ORT SA CAPE. It has been exciting. I want to come again.”

A massive thank you to everyone who who has been supporting this project. You are giving disadvantaged children in Cape Town an excellent opportunity to explore science and technology through robotics. Thank you for your kindness and help!

Having been able to spend time at ORT SA CAPE during my time in South Africa recently, I am able to give a personal update on how much of a difference you are making to the children at their programmes! I am truly grateful to each person who has been sponsoring the science and robotics workshops run by ORT SA CAPE.

Karen at ORT SA CAPE invited me to join her on a visit to Pinocchio Creche. Helen, who runs the creche, had reached out to ORT SA CAPE, and it looks like a promising new partnership. The creche caters to 70 children between two and six years old. It is located in Green Point and is attended mostly by the children of domestic workers. Helen's mother, Maggie Oewies-Shongwe, founded the creche. Having worked as a domestic worker from the age of nine herself, she was acutely aware of the inequality and disparities experienced by non-white labourers in South Africa. She went on to start a service addressing these workers' needs for a safe, nurturing and developmental environment for their children.

As an exciting development, CHW may help to sponsor ORT SA CAPE's activities with Pinocchio Creche and we may also form our own direct partnership with the creche too, which would allow CHW's supporters to help with other needs there. Helen and her team do amazing work and it would be wonderful to get involved.

On Mandela Day (18 July), Karen and the team from ORT SA CAPE invited me to join them again, as they ran a programme, and also made donations of food and educational materials, to the creche. Karen led Lego 6 Bricks activities with the children. It was wonderful to see this in person, after receiving updates from ORT SA CAPE on the workshops that CHW's supporters had previously sponsored! The activities allowed the children to explore colours and to build towers in different ways, both individually and in groups, and it was great to see their enthusiasm and engagement. Four children sat at each table. I helped at one of the tables, and one of the boys, Yolo, aged 5, was the fastest out of the whole creche to build towers and make the correct colour sequences. He quickly helped the others on his table during group activities. As well as doing activities directly with the children, ORT SA CAPE is planning to carry out teacher training at the creche too. 

Karen said, "ORT SA CAPE is looking forward to our budding relationship with Pinocchio creche and CHW. After our successful Mandela Day programme, we are confident that Helen and her staff will embrace the training and support we are offering. This will make a measurable difference in the lives of these special children."

GlobalGiving is holding a Youth Week Campaign starting at 2pm (UK time) on 7 August and ending on 12 August. Whilst matching funds last, donations of up to $250 will be matched. If 20 people support our project for ORT SA CAPE, and between us, we raise $2000, further bonus cash prizes will be made available by GlobalGiving. If you would like to support the children helped by ORT SA CAPE, this would be the perfect time to do so, as your help will go extra far during that week!

A huge thank you to each person who is supporting ORT SA CAPE's work. Your help is making a real difference to disadvantaged children in Cape Town.