We are a volunteer-led, non-profit Public Benefit Organisation located in Johannesburg, South Africa. We partner with the Diepsloot Combined School (DCS) located in the informal settlement of Diepsloot, an economically disadvantaged informal settlement in Northern Johannesburg. It is home to approximately 250,000-500,000 people many of whom live in shacks without electricity or indoor plumbing.
Our mission is to improve English literacy for grade 2 and 3 students at DCS. We also mend school uniforms, do health checks for students and provide support and financial assistance for learners from Diepsloot going on to University. In addition, Edu Fun is evolving to include students from non-fee paying schools in rural, urban and informal settlements outside of Diepsloot to address the varied educational, literacy and material needs of the population. To learn more about us you can also visit our Facebook page.
About our Teaching Methods:
We utilise the Phono-Graphix method, a straightforward reading and spelling method developed in America. The method educates learners that letters are pictures of sounds, sounds can be represented by more than one letter or combinations of letters and that combinations of letters can also represent multiple sounds. Edu Fun volunteers are invited to attend Phono-Graphix training sessions throughout the year but anyone who is literate in English is encouraged to join us as anytime as a volunteer at DCS! Our work is making an impact! Last year student reading skills improved by 60% and spelling skills by 73%. Teachers at DCS are also trained in the Phono-Graphix method.
Class sizes at the school are very large and English is not the first language of the students or their teachers. To help address these challenges, we work closely with school administrators, teachers and students and help to teach reading, reading comprehension, spelling and writing in smaller group settings. We aim to provide learners with individualized attention and customised lessons appropriate to each learner's ability.
Come and Join Us!
Grade 2 - Mondays
Volunteers meet for carpooling at the Dainfern Valley Shopping Centre at 8:30 a.m. Lessons are from 09:00-10:00 a.m. and classes are divided into 5 groups based on literacy level. There is a lead volunteer teacher for each class responsible for lesson design and delivery. Each classroom has 30-45 children and each volunteer works with a group of about six to ten children. The grade has nearly 200 learners and usually the class size is about 60 students per room, so the Edu Fun sessions are a fantastic opportunity to give children much needed personalised attention. The teaching materials are provided by Edu Fun.
Grade 3 – Tuesdays
Select students from Grade 2 have been identified as needing additional help with English. Volunteers work with 2-4 learners at a time in the library or container classroom. In addition, 20-30 of the strongest learners from grade 2 are receiving classroom style instruction led by Edu Fun volunteers to build upon their reading, writing and spelling skills. Basic on-site training is given for new volunteers. We meet at the Dainfern Valley Shopping Centre at 8:30am for carpooling every Tuesday. The class runs from 9:00 a.m.-10:00 a.m.
