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Three2Six newsletter - July 2025
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Due to space limitations at our host school, Sacred Heart College, we’ve relocated our younger students (Grades 1 to 5) to a new venue. We’re incredibly grateful to the wonderful team at Windybrow Theatre, and especially its director Gerard, for welcoming us so warmly into such an inspiring environment.
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A heartfelt thank you also goes to our dedicated team, who worked tirelessly over the midterm break to move furniture and equipment. Thanks to your efforts, our students enjoy warm and inviting learning spaces where they feel excited to learn each day.
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Meanwhile, our Grade 6 and 7 students continue their learning journey each afternoon at Sacred Heart College, where their programme remains in full swing.
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A group of our children proudly represented the project at the National Marimba Festival, hosted at Christ Church Preparatory School and College. They performed alongside many other schools and had a fun, music-filled Saturday morning! Our children returned home smiling, full of energy, and proudly holding their certificate of participation.
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For Mandela Day, our grade 6 students enjoyed an exciting outing to the National Children's Theatre, where actors led storytelling sessions and played theatre games with them.
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We are very grateful to the Theatre for the kind invitation. Opportunities like this are a real treat for our children, as their access to cultural experiences is often limited.
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Our project is proud to be part of the 2025 Windybrow Arts Centre and Camp I am Spelling BeeHive program, an inspiring initiative that encourages a love for language, reading, and self-expression. The program offers learners a unique opportunity to improve their vocabulary, spelling, and confidence through engaging and meaningful activities. We are delighted to have Orifha Tshisikule, assigned by the Spelling BeeHive team, working with our learners to support them in mastering the word lists. They practice twice a week. A few selected learners will have the opportunity to represent Three2Six at the provincial competition, and we are excited to support them on this empowering journey of growth and achievement!
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Donations
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Our supporters care deeply about our community, and that fills our hearts!
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This month, the Sacred Heart College students chose to do their Mandela Day act of service for our project, generously donating numerous bags filled with soup ingredients. We also received a wonderful donation of dried pasta from the kind-hearted St Benedict’s College community.
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Father Mokesh at Sacred Heart College made sure our bright young students in Grade 1 would stay warm this winter by donating cosy beanies. And for Mandela Day, the lovely Stacey crocheted colourful bracelets and taught our children how to crochet them together, a beautiful way to embody unity and the idea that we all depend on one another.
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Staff update
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Sadly, we've had to say goodbye to a few of our volunteers this month as their time with the project came to an end.
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Anna-Lena dedicated an entire year of her life to the project, and we are incredibly grateful for her commitment. She supported us wherever there was a need, from assisting our teachers in the classroom and running art sessions, to helping during playtime, on the bus, during outings and camps. A talented sportswoman, Anna-Lena led weekly physical education classes for our students. She also spent a lot of time documenting our work, managing our social media, and preparing our newsletter.
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She will begin her studies in October, and we wish her all the very best. We hope she carries this experience with her as she moves forward. Vielen Dank to her and to her sending organisation, Kindermissionswerk "Die Sternsinger", for their trust and support!
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"Volunteering with Three2Six has been the most meaningful experience of my life. The children's warmth, curiosity, and resilience made every day special. I received more than I could ever give and their energy and kindness left a lasting impact on me. I've learned so much about myself, about different cultures, and even through sharing food and stories. I'm incredibly proud of the children and truly believe that each one of them has the potential to achieve great things."
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Earlier this year, Mary-Genevieve joined us as a volunteer. As a Sacred Heart College alumni, she was very familiar with the project and some of our staff. Mary-Genevieve acted as an assistant teacher for our combined grade 2 and 3 class. This mostly meant following up on and grading homework, listening to the children practicing their reading and helping them out when they struggled with the words. But she also helped the grade teacher with anything else that was needed - and, most importantly, she offered love and care to our students every day she was at the project.
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"[The children] were so wonderful, mostly, and most of the time most of them really tried. I wish them only the best, and to keep up their reading, and I wouldn't change these past months for all the gold in Gauteng."
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We are so grateful that she chose to volunteer with the project this year before beginning her studies later this year. We wish her all the best with this new chapter in her life, and we hope she will come back to visit us soon!
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Julian joined us from Switzerland for two weeks, supporting our teacher and assistant teacher in the grade 2 and 3 class wherever there was a need.
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He also assisted our volunteer Anna-Lena with running the physical education classes.
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Thank you, Julian, for choosing to spend some of your summer holidays volunteering with us. We really appreciate it!
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Alumni Day
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This month’s Alumni Day began on a peaceful note with a morning yoga session, followed by a thoughtful reflection on the highlights and challenges of the first half of the year. It was a chance for everyone to pause, reconnect, and set intentions for the months ahead.
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After the reflection, our alumni broke into small groups to collaborate on identifying meaningful solutions to pressing community issues, including xenophobia, water scarcity, and bullying. Each group engaged in lively discussions, combining personal insights with practical strategies to create actionable plans aimed at driving positive change.
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To wrap up the day, groups presented their ideas to one another, sharing their visions and sparking further dialogue. The event concluded with a shared meal, giving everyone a chance to relax, reconnect, and celebrate the spirit of community and collaboration.
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Each donation counts and helps us make a valuable change in the lives of our learners.
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