Volunteering

We rely 100% on donations to fund our work of improving English literacy.

Edu Fun is comprised of our teaching programme and numerous partner projects all aimed at supporting learners attending the Diepsloot Combined School. There are many ways you can help. You don’t have to commit to volunteering every week.

During the Covid-19 lockdown, we are still as active as ever, if not more active in Diepsloot, because we have needed to support the wider community whilst schools have been closed. Our literacy programme has taken on a different format as we've been required to take it from the classroom into the community or onto a computer. We have 3 mini-satellite hubs running in Diepsloot Ext 1, 6 and 10 and we've also had to turn our focus to a more extensive feeding scheme due to the challenges with food parcels not reaching people and due to the increased rate of unemployment.

Our volunteering as become more "virtual" in the sense that we have been providing Virtual Vouchers for food and our volunteers have been meeting online regularly to plan the varied programmes that we are running. Mentoring Sessions and an English Enrichment Programme using the Phono-Graphix Reading and Spelling Programme is also being run online on a weekly basis.

Edu Fun has linked up with a group of 20 youth from Yoga for Alex who are learning how to teach reading. They attend training with us and teach Grade 3 children how to read every Tuesday and Thursday at Diepsloot Combined School from 8:30am to 12pm. Any volunteers are welcome to attend to observe and to join in. All Covid-19 social distancing protocols observed.

Edu Fun continues to work very closely with Read for Africa and St Peter's School who are running a face2face and virtual reading programme at Sefikeng Primary School on Wednesday mornings. This school caters for children from Diepsloot but is located on the Leeukop Prison Property between Lonehill and Kyalami. The school is not linked to the prison, but just happens to be on the property. Anyone is welcome to join us for this too.

If you would like to learn more about the Phono-Graphix method we use to teach reading, you may wish to view this video clip. It takes you through the 4 key principles behind the programme as well as discusses a few topical debates such as learning how to read in your mother tongue versus English. There is also a practical demonstration of word building and buddy reading towards the end. Learn more about the Phono-Graphix Reading Method Here.

Many of our Partner Projects also need help from volunteers. These projects are varied but they all have a similar theme – each was developed to provide support and to remove barriers to education. If a learners basics needs are not met, then they’re not able to concentrate on their school work and won't reach their full potential. All of our partner projects were created by Edu Fun volunteers who saw a need and took action.

You can find information about our partner projects here.

What Volunteers Say

"Having been accidentally introduced to Phono-Graphix, I can honestly say that I am captivated by its functional simplicity. It just works at all levels. As a 100% inexperienced teacher, I am now volunteering through Edufun at Diepsloot Combined School and the benefits are mutual. The kids love learning, confirmed by their decibel levels of excitement and the multitude of hugs that you receive when you have to leave, which is both heart-warming and heart-breaking. This methodology just works and the results are fantastic."

"I'm thrilled that I discovered Edu Fun when I moved to South Africa. A hugely rewarding opportunity, and a chance to give something back. The kids are just amazing, the other volunteers too, many of whom have become great friends. It's also flexible, with an opportunity to be involved in as many areas as you would like, from teaching, to health, to further education to baby club. Everyone has something to offer. In return I learned a lot. After 3 years at Edu Fun I'm back in the UK now, but still involved, particularly with the older kids from the further education group. I love having a chat with them over email when they have access, even if it's to give me a hard time over a football result. I wouldn't have wanted to spend my time in SA any other way"

"I started volunteering with Edu-Fun in January 2015. I've always worked within education in different roles in my home country so volunteering in a school environment was perfect. We work each Monday morning with grade 3 children from Diepsloot Combined School teaching English as well as further developing their literacy skills. As English is not their first language, the phonics programme we use has to be easy to follow and implement. The Phono-Graphix approach we use is highly effective in helping the learners develop literacy skills and it provides them with the foundation skills they need to read and further develop their English. I have made many friendships with other volunteers through Edu-Fun. I'm an ex-pat living in South Africa and it can be hard being so far away from friends in our home country. Volunteering enables you to meet different people and make new friends. I feel that we make a difference and have a positive effect on the children we work with and by doing so we are actively changing lives in the Diepsloot community."

“I began volunteering with Edu Fun in July 2012. I was very apprehensive at first, as I don’t have any children of my own and had no previous experience of teaching. Also, I’m based in the UK and only in Joburg for a few weeks at a time. However, I found none of that mattered. After my first visit to the school, I realised that all kinds of skills are needed, which inspired me to help create this website (I’m a freelance copywriter). I’m so glad I plucked up the courage to call Avril. I can honestly say that volunteering with Edu Fun is one of the most rewarding things I have ever done - especially now that I'm involved with the new Further Education Project, helping to support varsity students from Diepsloot. It just goes to show that if you identify a need, with Edu Fun, you can do something about it that really does change lives!”

To find out more, call Jenny on 082 322 0608.
Visit Edu Fun's Facebook page.

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