Stories
Imvelo yethu I did trainings at Gwadu where I was finishing the number of learners who could not attend training. I also trained community care workers who work with people living with HIV and AIDS. Lastly I trained learners at Luvisi area in Inquthu. The training was so relevant to the learners in such a way that the principal quickly organized learners even though I didn't make any appointment. I started by having a talk on Covid19.The area has rivers but does not have water. The level of land pollution is very high. I had to emphasize on how we can turn things around by protecting our nature. Even though I trained grade 12 only, I promised to go back as the challenges are affecting the community.
1. ENJOYED SECTIONS The most enjoyed modules were banking , saving , investments and retirement. The trained people are people working on contract on community projects lasting from 6 months to a year so they don't consider saving , investment and retiment preparations as their options but for people earning real money not stipend as they do . They normally open savings accounts for their wages whuch they dont fully understand what they're paying towards it as it's the only option given to them by bank consultants , they don't know how to read tjeir statements for them statements is for checking if theyve been payed month end . Coming to bank services they're not aware and this training have given them information on how banks operates. Investment and preparing fir retirement is not even an option for them but after this training they think better , the other issue raised by them is they over invest on stokvels which they end up not getting anything as they fail to pay montly contributions or they've loaned from the stokcel and can't pay back . CHALLENGING SESSION BUDGET This was the most challenging for them as they refer to their grocery list as budget and as we were doing the budget they were forced to face reality and be honest with themselves most of them find out they're left with nothing from their wages . It took us for a long period to finish this section as they're required to excercise this and most of them are illiterate so they loose interest but doing doing rounds helping them individually helped them at the end they so the importance and they were enthusiastic and prepared to sgare this with their families . IMPACT These candidates they now know bank procedures , what to expect when visiting bank branches, which account is suitable for them , they'll start saving and investing tiwards their kids education and are prepared to go take out retirement products suitable for them. When lending they'll be lending responsible aware of the interest to be paid what other options the have . From noe on they'll be saving for the future .
SESSION ENJOYED The most enjoyed sessions were Ecosystem and Water cycle at first these kids didn't understood the connection between human beings and ecosystem we then digged deeper on the relationships and roles played by each member of the ecosystem community, we identified living and non living things and where human beings fit and what role we play in the system . Formation of clouds, types of clouds and how are formed then focused on the rain cloud this will then enable them in the future to predict whether there will be rain or not by reading the clouds , role palyed by indigenous forests in cleaning our air and water cycle how they can be used to rehabilitate damaged members of the ecosystem .How can they see pollution through clouds . How can we prevent tornadoes, cloud bursts . 2.BIOLOGICAL INVASIONS School kids they don't know about invasive species they think these species are part of our indigenous community which must be protected . We went through each invasuve within our space identify advantages and disadvantages their common names and name backgrounds. We took one popular invasive which is planted in every home in our villages THE QUEEN OF THE NIGHT which these kids believe it's a medicinal plant , we also looked closer on other invasives which we see destroying our own indigenous plants , rivers and rangelands . I think more education needs to be done on INVASIVE SPECIES . 3. IMPACT DONE After we've done the do's and don't activity , start and stop activity 3 projects in each school were identified . Planting of indigenous trees around school yards that are nearby wetlands which they believe will help in rehabilitating these wetlands , waste management projects which will see community members taking responsibility in waste management in an endevour to save our rivers . Voluntary wattle clearing projects which will see the recovery of agricultural land. We are hoping that the department of environmental affairs will assist in assuring that these projects survive and soread to other communities. Our encouragement comes from knowing that RIVERS ARE MY BLOOD VEINS , TREES ARE MY LUNGS , BAD THING I DO TODAY TO THE ENVIRONMENT THE ENVIRONMENT WILL THRIW BACK TO ME ONE DAY .
Environmental awareness program, I decided to take a turn in Bushbuckridge municipaliy and engage with the community for sessions training. I successfully enganged with different stakeholders, NGOs, institutions, youth center, etc. Learner's seems to enjoy the most in the session its start and stop , because where they found direction in what must start and stop. Some learner's learn more about their daily activities that are harmful to their environmental and must stop doing it. They also learn more about activities that the must be emplemented in their environmentant, because is valuable and play a good rule to protect and prevent their environment like planting more trees and protect them, recycling, etc. What make them to be more intrested or enjoy this session its because damage have already been made by different activities that we do and that affects our environment. This session reviled to them what are the effects and give hope to make a difference in the environment. Participants discussed and debated more in this session because they don't agree with one another in some pictures in terms of start or stop, its how they learn and listening to different opinions. I have more elders active compared to youth in my sessions. The participation of youth compare to elders concerned me because I thought youth will be more active than elders. I decided to confront them and ask what's ,wrong , why they are not active and someone responded 'we are shy'. From that time my sessions start with funny or jokes to twist their minds and feel welcomed in the session. Most participants promised to take responsibility toward protection and prevention of their environment.
We had a training on 05th March at KTC community. The training was well attended and the participation was good. But they raise a concern that they would like to get more skills that help them to get jobs. I told them that I will inform my superiors. The group was very much interested on Retirement.
On the 26th Feb 2020 I trained at Philippi, the training was well attended and the participation was good. I admired to see young men in the training as some they dnt normally participate in such programs. We also had 2 community leaders who attended it was great to see them. This group engaged a lot on Needs and Wants but we concluded by saying our need are not the same they always depend on our environment and circumstances.
On the 20th Feb 2020 I trained at KTC community. It was well attended and we had to turn some people away as it was full already and we asked them to attend the following week. The training was well recieved and the group was bit matured. The had interest on Goals Setting and the drafting of a budget. The only challenge we encountered was the fact that there was also another training with in the venue but people who are working in the hall managed to sort this duplication and we managed to start. We then decided that I will train every Thursdays and the other program can be on other days.
I started Streetwise Financial Literacy on 19th February at Philippi. The training was well attended and the participation was good. The only challenge we had was the venue, it was double booked and that made us to start little bit later. Their interest was more on insurance and retirement. It was a wonderful group with different ages.
Imvelo yetu 2020 The programme has been welcomed very well by communities and schools. Recruitment was not a problem but I am now preferring schools because I can do 3 sessions a day which fast track the target. What was most enjoyed by participants: The part that caught the eyes of many of my participants is the relationship between cutting trees and the loss of oxygen. Many people did not the danger of cutting tress as they believe as long as there are trees it doesn't matter how much. We discussed this and made several examples of how important it is to have as many trees as possible. What was not enjoyed by participants: The discussion about ecosystem and the importance of all creatures was understood by most participants, however, they were all not happy about the the existence of the snake. I had to use all the information that Susan shared during T3 when I also did not agree with the snake issue. I managed to make them understand that it is fine to be afraid of something but that doesn't give us rights to kill. After a lengthy discussion we will finally come to an understanding that if human beings can stay away from snakes they will not be f risk to them. Impact of the programme: What I realized was that people were not aware that in as much as we need civilization but if we use nature to produce manmade product, we may end up with no nature which results in a series of problems like climate change. The desperation of life in their eyes make me believe they will make some changes by preserving nature. When I present certificates I always tell them they are now our ambassadors which means they have to educate others and stop those damaging nature. That statement make them feel important to this programme and I feel they use all they can to share the information whilst they change how they handle nature for generations to come. People enjoyed the card game as it gives them a chance to assess the situation and come up with solutions.
