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Three2Six newsletter - July 2023
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Artwork made for Mandela Day
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Three2Six has had three American volunteers visiting the project and they put on a fantastic farewell show for the children. They are heading back to the US to continue their tertiary education.
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The volunteers had given violin lessons to some of the children for several weeks and on this day, they had enough courage and basic skills to perform in front of the whole school. They played short violin pieces, encouraged by their music teachers. Well done to them for their efforts!
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Follow-up on health screenings
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The Three2Six children were screened by primary healthcare nurses earlier this year, and several children were referred for additional care. The St Charles Clinic in La Rochelle saw to the general health needs of the children, while Tanya Roach, a parent at St David’s Marist Inanda, tested the children who had been referred for eye tests and arranged glasses for them. She is the proprietor of Vision Works Optometrist in Benmore Shopping Centre and Waterfall.
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Thank you both for the great service and kindness that you offered to the children. Their lives have certainly improved as a result. The Wits Speech and Hearing Clinic will be consulting the children who need hearing tests and we are in the process of sourcing healthcare providers to assist the children who need dental care.
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Mandela Day celebrations
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Mandela Day was celebrated by the foundation phase learners performing a concert of poems and songs for the children of Wings of Hope. This is a nursery school next to our host school, Dominican Convent. The highlight was a poem called Kindness, reminding us all how important it is to be kind to one another. The children shared cards they had made and a little pack of treats with their friends from Wings of Hope.
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During the day, Three2Six was also visited by Malusi Ntoyapi and Phadiela Cooper from the HCI Foundation, a loyal funder of the project for many years. Malusi and Phadiela enjoyed the concert with the children and they had the opportunity to see where the project is now located.
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Donations
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Our generous network of supporters was at it again this month! Mali Dlamini, a Holy Family College alumnus, donated exercise shoes to 10 of our students.
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Tom Miles arranged a donation of 80 pairs of school shoes for Three2Six children who did not receive a pair during the previous donation drive. These shoes are environmentally friendly and are made from recycled materials using non-hazardous IV drip bags from hospitals. This wonderful initiative is called My Walk Made with Soul.
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The UK art exhibition was a huge success and many hearts were touched. The Dorking Museum in collaboration with The Poppy Collective hosted an exhibition where the children of Three2Six and their peers featured their work. The focus was on refugees globally and the art centred around sunflowers, the Ukrainian national flower. Visitors could make their own collages to add to the exhibition and had the opportunity to read about Three2Six and other initiatives. Thank you to Sophia Cowx, and alumnus of Sacred Heart College and the driving force at The Poppy Collective, for making this exhibition a reality.
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Educator training
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Mental health includes our emotional, psychological and social well-being.It affects how we think, feel and act. It also helps determine how we handle stress, relate to others, and make healthy choices.
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Another meaningful event was organised with our partner Regional Psychosocial Support Initiatives (REPSSI) this month around these issues. After hosting events for our mothers and the youth, this month’s event was for the educators in our community. A total of 18 educators gathered for a three-day training to learn more about addressing the mental health and psychosocial needs of their migrant students.
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Our judo coaches, project coordinator and some of our current and past Three2Six teachers were among the participants.
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Some of the themes covered included caring for the carer, what happens when life makes children vulnerable, and supporting vulnerable children to cope. The participants were given the tools to provide stable and nurturing care to their migrant students to prevent them from experiencing further stress i.
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Alumni day
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This past Alumni Day we had a mini holiday programme. Our alumni were on their winter break and we saw it fit to host a more casual programme instead of an academic one. We had a large group of about 18 pupils who showed up and were eager to participate in the various activities.
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We began with ice-breaker activities planned and facilitated by Tamara Barnwell who was a volunteer at the project in 2022. We then attempted a string and beading activity by recreating a sample made by Keith Witelson, a regular facilitator.
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The pupils and facilitators struggled to figure out how exactly Keith had made the bracelet they were replicating, after a few YouTube videos the alumni had figured it out. The beading activity revealed the creativity of the alumni and it showed how determined they were to decode it. We then stepped outside to play soccer and netball. We concluded our session with lunch prepared by Nyasha Bowora, who is always helping us with our meals.
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Photo exhibition still on
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“Leaving no child behind” is a photo exhibition at the Alliance Francaise Johannesburg that features children from the project. The photos were taken by professional photographers and give the viewer a glimpse into the lives of refugee children and the struggles and joys they experience. It is worth a visit and will be up until the end of August. Don't miss out.
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Each donation counts and helps us make a valuable change in the lives of our learners.
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