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Three2Six newsletter - August 2023
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Heartwarming donations from the Smile Foundation
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Our 2022 annual report is out!
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Our annual report for 2022 has been released and provides insight into various aspects of the project. Some of the highlights include our 2022 educational activities, the media coverage we have received, the advocacy initiatives carried out throughout the year to help improve access to education for refugee and migrant children, our team and sub-committee compositions, the fundraising and marketing operations of the project, and its finances.
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We are thankful to everyone who contributed to this important publication and to our dedicated team who made 2022 yet another successful year for our children and project. If you would like to find out more about the project’s operations, the report is just a click away.
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Parent consultation with the Outreach Foundation
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Access to education after Three2Six remains a challenge for our parents and their children. Despite a legal framework that protects and proclaims the right to education for all children, documentation is still a main barrier to education in South Africa. This year is no different. That is why our partner, Outreach Foundation, brought in a team of social workers and paralegals to assist our families with this crucial transition.
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The Foundation’s team helped them submit applications to schools and they are now expecting the outcome of their applications. The parents who couldn’t attend the meeting have been visiting the Foundation’s offices for assistance with school registration for their children. Thank you to the Foundation for their support.
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During their Creative Arts class, our Grade 7 learners created 3D objects using recyclable materials such as empty toilet rolls and cardboard. They also had the opportunity to learn various weaving techniques making use of plastic bags.
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The Grade 4 class, during their Natural Sciences class, made use of similar materials to create habitats for animals. Another activity the Grade 7s got stuck into, was drawing pictures in preparation for the Feast of St Dominic. The creativity and imagination the children displayed are astounding.
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Life in South Africa is a daily challenge for our families. Hygiene products and items that are not foodstuffs take a lower priority when it comes to monthly expenses. It is therefore with gratitude that we received a generous donation from the Smile Foundation. Each of the Three2Six children received a bag of toiletries, toys, a water bottle and a cap. It was the perfect gift before going on holiday for a month!
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Sophia Cowx, a Sacred Heart College alumnus and supporter of the project in the UK, donated educational toys that tap into scientific experiments, hone maths skills, and keep the children active. The children have been using these toys in the classroom to give everyone access.
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Doctor Sister Judy Coyle, a Sister of the Immaculate Heart of Mary, kindly donated her car to Three2Six. Sister Judy is originally from the United States and has made an incredible contribution to the Church in South Africa, she was the Faculty of Theology’s Head of Department at St Augustine College in Johannesburg, until she retired.
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Thank you to our wonderful supporters for everything that they do for our children and our project!
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Graduation ceremony for our parents
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Congratulations were in order this month! Our proud parents received their certificates after completing the English classes offered by our partner, Turquoise Harmony Institute. We are thrilled to see how much they have learnt and improved their language skills over the 14 weeks of this course, this is a great step towards their integration in South Africa. Another group of our parents will start lessons at the end of September. Thank you to Turquoise Harmony Institute and their passionate teachers who have offered incredible support to our parents.
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This month's alumni day was quite eventful as we had a mix of academic and casual activities. We were joined by Marina and Mariana, two wonderful Brazilian guests who are volunteering at Three2Six. They played an impactful role as facilitators as they assisted our alumni with reading novels, poetry and short stories. We began our session with a writing activity, in which the pupils were tasked with setting academic and personal goals to aim towards in the last quarter of the year.
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The purpose of this task was to allow the alumni to reflect on their academic performance during the first half of the year and to revise their plans for tackling their academic objectives. We then headed to the Old Chapel Theatre where we played our infamous musical chairs, along with a few other games.
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We were also joined by Benita who was doing evaluations of the alumni. She engaged with the alumni about their experiences in the project as well as post-Three2Six. After completing spelling tests and tackling algebra, we stepped out in the sun to pray and enjoy lunch together.
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Welcome!
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Last month two volunteers from Brazil, Marina and Mariana, joined the project to carry out a gender analysis at Three2Six until the end of September. They are both doing a Master's degree in European Migration and Intercultural Relations (EMMIR) and are currently studying at the University of the Witwatersrand in Johannesburg.
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Profile: Marina Aragão Santos, Bachelor of International Relations and Specialist in Human Rights and Public Policies for the Protection of Migrants and Refugees.
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“In my last job in Brazil, I coordinated a project to provide psychosocial assistance to at-risk Venezuelan migrant and refugee children and adolescents. This experience of working in collaboration with three public schools deeply intrigued me, igniting a desire to comprehend the obstacles to integrating refugees into educational environments. At Three2Six, I've been presented with a distinctive chance to explore the South African context regarding refugees and migration, particularly the challenges surrounding access to education. As I currently undertake the development of a gender analysis for the project, I am delving into the potential barriers that migrant and refugee girls might encounter. This exploration is essential, as education is crucial in empowering girls, fostering their resilience, and contributing to their well-being in such demanding circumstances.”
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“I am very interested in the Education field of migrant children. I have had experience with children and youth in vulnerable contexts back in Brazil, such as being responsible for a study habit project at a foster home in Sao Paulo. My bachelor's final thesis was also on refugee children, this time, children from Syria living in Brazil, analyzing their configuration of bonds between their country of origin and Brazil. At Three2Six I have had the opportunity to learn more about refugee children in the South African context, focusing more on a gender perspective, where together with my classmate Marina Aragao, we will analyze probable barriers and challenges that girls face throughout their education process. I am very happy to contribute to Three2Six because I believe that education is a key tool to empower kids, providing them with knowledge and skills, and enabling them to recognize their rights.”
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Profile: Mariana Lopes, Bachelor in Psychology and Specialist in Clinical Psychology from an Existential Phenomenological Perspective.
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This Women’s Month our wonderful project coordinator, Justine Kimbala, was featured by our funder HCI Foundation for their phenomenal woman award. Through this campaign the Foundation turned the spotlight on prolific women from its partner organisations who have made a great contribution towards changing the lives of others, especially young people. Read the feature here.
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Each donation counts and helps us make a valuable change in the lives of our learners.
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