About First Aiducate
Where It Started, And Where We Are Now
On 23 March 2020, the South African president Ramaphosa announced a nationwide lockdown which affected learners in the Mamelodi projects in an unprecedented way. While the urban schools had the resources and privilege to carry out their lessons remotely, here in the township the Mamelodi students were attending schools on alternating days or weeks, and in the interim were not able to access resources that would enable them to do well such as computers, Wi-Fi, textbooks, and everyday lessons. This meant that there were a lot of learners who fell behind in their studies. Most of these learners come from disadvantaged backgrounds where the majority stay with guardians who are unemployed, and many do not have a higher education qualification.
The high rate of crime in the Mamelodi area has been one of the contributing factors in a low view of education by the community and consequently sets a bad example for the youth. As a result, there is a lack of motivation and encouragement to take God or education seriously.
In addition, the tragic Covid-19 pandemic readjustment led to depression and frustration for both learners and parents. Many learners dropped out of school, and in Mamelodi some committed suicide or fell into drugs and crime. The opportunity to serve and bring fresh hope to these learners and their families, through the gospel and tutoring, became not only an urgent need but a joy to initiate. From the 3 learners Sihle started with in August 2019, the numbers have increased to just over 100 learners in 2 years.
Our project will help by working with schools to further educate learners who are behind, so we are assisting them based on the work they are currently being taught in schools by offering weekly tutoring classes, including during school holidays. Meeting volunteers who are engineers, accountants, doctors, occupational therapists, business analysts etc. shows students the possibilities that are available to them given the necessary education. The volunteers help them better understand by attending to them individually and encouraging them to love God and enjoy their studies. The volunteers make it fun for the students, by sharing unique applications and perspectives on the work. Volunteers are kept passionate and accountable in delivering quality education regularly.
About First Aiducate
Where It Started, And Where We Are Now
On 23 March 2020, the South African president Ramaphosa announced a nationwide lockdown which affected learners in the Mamelodi projects in an unprecedented way. While the urban schools had the resources and privilege to carry out their lessons remotely, here in the township the Mamelodi students were attending schools on alternating days or weeks, and in the interim were not able to access resources that would enable them to do well such as computers, Wi-Fi, textbooks, and everyday lessons. This meant that there were a lot of learners who fell behind in their studies. Most of these learners come from disadvantaged backgrounds where the majority stay with guardians who are unemployed, and many do not have a higher education qualification. The high rate of crime in the Mamelodi area has been one of the contributing factors in a low view of education by the community and consequently sets a bad example for the youth. As a result, there is a lack of motivation and encouragement to take God or education seriously.
In addition, the tragic Covid-19 pandemic readjustment led to depression and frustration for both learners and parents. Many learners dropped out of school, and in Mamelodi some committed suicide or fell into drugs and crime. The opportunity to serve and bring fresh hope to these learners and their families, through the gospel and tutoring, became not only an urgent need but a joy to initiate. From the 3 learners Sihle started with in August 2019, the numbers have increased to just over 100 learners in 2 years.
Our project will help by working with schools to further educate learners who are behind, so we are assisting them based on the work they are currently being taught in schools by offering weekly tutoring classes, including during school holidays. Meeting volunteers who are engineers, accountants, doctors, occupational therapists, business analysts etc. shows students the possibilities that are available to them given the necessary education. The volunteers help them better understand by attending to them individually and encouraging them to love God and enjoy their studies. The volunteers make it fun for the students, by sharing unique applications and perspectives on the work. Volunteers are kept passionate and accountable in delivering quality education regularly.
The Tutoring Program
Grades
Subjects
Care
Why First Aiducate?
The First Aiducate Tutoring project seeks to grow the mindset of the youth in Mamelodi while ministering the Gospel. We offer tutoring lessons every Saturday as well as during holidays. On school holidays, grade 8-10s meet during the day, and grade 11-12s meet during the evenings to ensure that the previous quarter work is understood and that they prepare ahead for the following quarter.
Our prayer and hope is that they may be saved and become leaders that would impact the community in a meaningful way. Learners in the township are hungry to learn, grow, and become better leaders in their community in general. However, there are few to no platforms that focus on empowering these students with extra lessons and biblical resources that would challenge, strengthen, and bring growth to their lives. The need is great. The Lord has always laid a mission in our hearts to seek ways in advancing His Kingdom in underprivileged and disadvantaged areas.
Over 80% of the high schools in Mamelodi have spoken of the need to improve the educational performance of the learners. Unfortunately, many of the teachers lack the resources, love, and diligence to bring this to fruition, as well as an interest to further their own studies to become better equipped. This lack combined with the limited resources of a state school leaves the educational system in the township in dire straits and as a result, the students end up falling behind the curriculum and need to catch up on their own. It has therefore been our desire to ensure that learners are equipped both intellectually and spiritually.
Seeing this need led us to source resources that will enrich and transform these young minds. We hope that the students could be better vessels in labouring for the Kingdom and the community. When students are well equipped, the state of our community in Mamelodi would be a better place; there can be hope that the Gospel and the Love it instils would be carried over to the community by these students, as the fruit of this Love will be displayed in the way they live and serve others. Therefore, we believe that by teaching students to be diligent and committed to learning more about God’s Word for themselves and giving their attention to their studies, leaders will emerge. Let’s create the future we want to see, by investing in tomorrow’s leaders.
Broken Systems That Hinder Normal Day-to-Day Functionality
- Lack of conducive environment for learners to grow holistically.
- Underfunded and overcrowded schools with less staff and resources.
- Insufficient healthcare facilities
- Broken family systems: overcrowded – no privacy/anonymity.
- Less motivation: GBV, crime, teenage pregnancy, school dropout, suicide, etc.
- Lack of strong leadership and mentorship programs for the youth
The Church in Mamelodi
Because this program started as discipleship, the centre of the program is inevitably about directing these young minds first and foremost to Christ. We have seized the opportunity to have so many learners that can be exposed to the Gospel every week, especially considering the scarcity of the gospel being preached in the community. We have partnered with The Church In Mamelodi to offer counselling and spiritual support to those needing it, and we pray that God would soften their hearts to receive the Gospel. It is an encouragement to continue labouring regardless of the challenges, and we are thankful to see some saved in the program who now are part of the church.