Working Together - June 14th, 2019
Today was a big day for us, where Poly partnered with LEAP to present engaging, productive, and enriching lessons for the iThuba students. All of the groups prepared lessons and stations on decision making, team work, time management, self esteem, academics, and debate. Our main motivation was to encourage students to be confident, find the things they believe make them unique and special, getting them to write down their hopes and dreams, and skills for the future. Throughout this process, it has been a powerful experience getting to know the iThuba and LEAP students in this way. What we appreciated most is that we were able to come together over all walks of life and celebrate our similarities and differences. Most of the day dealt with self exploration, we were able to not only learn about our LEAP and iThuba friends, but also about ourselves. We learned about ourselves as teachers and discovering the challenges of being on the flip side as being the teachers. It was a great feeling: a sense of confidence in being able to guide our peers, teach others, and learn from others. Additionally, we got a chance to work as a team and collaborate on ideas. Even when the LEAP students did not know the iThuba students, they were so welcoming and warm to them and quickly taught and helped them. At the end of the stations, we all gathered in a Reflection Circle. The Reflection Circle is a powerful tool the LEAP students use to create community, share and build each other up. One of the most significant and impactful statements from this was that anything is possible with teamwork. We are learning so much about what is really important and how to work together.
After leaving Langa, we had dinner at the Blue Cafe where some of us had traditional South African food or tastes from back home. Then we walked back to the hotel under a cloudless sky with the outline of the mountains in front of us.
-Laila
After leaving Langa, we had dinner at the Blue Cafe where some of us had traditional South African food or tastes from back home. Then we walked back to the hotel under a cloudless sky with the outline of the mountains in front of us.
-Laila
Waiting for the iThuba students to arrive
Prepping for the iThuba students
English lessons
Teaching iThuba students with LEAP students
Confidence building with the iThuba students
Human Knot Teambuilding
Learning about teamwork
Reflection Circle
Enkosi Kakhulu - Thank you very much!
Dinner at Blue Cafe- because we are such a big group, we had to sit in the original cellar of the restaurant!
