Volunteering at Ntshongweni Primary School

Volunteering at the local elementary school on Thursday, January 19, 2012.

Understaffed and inadequate in every possible way, Ntshongweni Primary school welcomed six hard-working volunteers to help sort and number their teacher books for the beginning of the new school year.

In South Africa  the new school year begins in January.

We worked outside on the stage of the amphitheater.

View down to the upper grade classrooms. The primary schools are Grace R to 7th.

View up to the lower grade classrooms.

Side view of the lower grade classrooms.

The children get a 40 minute break mid-morning and were so happy to see us.  We knew several of the children from the community.

Julia as happy to see the children as they were to see her.

No playground, no balls, no toys.  Only a tree to play on.

All the children have to wear the distinctive uniform for their school.  If they can't afford to purchase one ~ you can't go to school.

The African people love to get their pictures taken.

From the top of this hill, the 36 houses built by Habitat for Humanity and the Lutheran church are visible. These homes are for the orphans that are entrusted to our care.

This school was donated by the adjacent Catholic School.  These building sit empty and unused.

Ntshongweni Mountain.  Hillcrest, where we live is beyond this mountain and we have to drive up and around it everyday.

I have no idea how many children attend this primary school. This is one of three for Ntshongweni.  All three feed into the high school 8 -12 grade.

Drinking fountain.  Remember our seasons are reversed so January is summer and HOT.

Typical classroom.  When was the last time you saw chalk?

I'm peeking in the door with my camera.

This was heart breaking, we noticed that our numbers were down at our creche (preschool).  The public schools started offering free class for Grade R (Kindergarten).  40+ wee ones were crammed into this long, narrow hallway.  Some use to attend our creche.  Our creches' fee is 100 Rand a month ($12.00).

We offer a nutritious lunch everyday, here the children are getting beans in whatever container they brought from home.

Julia know this little one.

Drinking fountain...

View down to the amphitheater. 

I'm taking this shot through the open window.

Katelyn and meeeeeeeeee

Ntshongweni Mountain 

Ntshongweni mountain and the orphan houses

Glad to see that they are being taught something.  The students don't get text books, only the teachers do.

This school is next to the Catholic Private School, here is a nun.  Remember it's summer and the umbrella is to keep the hot sun off.

Classrooms

Back to work, sorting and numbering books. Left Ginger - Right Katelyn.

The whole gang: (L) me, Ginger, Evelyn a visitor from Germany who worked with us for 10 days, Allison from America who worked with us for several weeks, Katelyn, Julia.

Most classrooms have these wooden desks were several students sit together.  I don't know where most of the students are... Most classrooms have at least 40 students.

Me and the boys

Clover is the daily product manufacture

Children bought treats from the local ladies.

Local women set up shop to sell to both the Catholic school and Ntshongweni Primary school children.

The security guard.

The security guards office.

The gate to enter both schools.

Time to go home. Pastor Thwala joined us in the afternoon (far left.)

The view from the school gate, so beautiful.  With 6 volunteers we got everything the principal wanted done and we had a blast.  May God bless this school, its staff and students.  The love of Jesus was demonstrated by our willing hearts to help in anyway we could to this school.