The Midlands Meander Education Project aims to encourage whole-school improvement, and responds to requests from educators for help in dealing with vulnerable children.
Educational outcomes in rural schools in South Africa are often very poor. Usually, poor infrastructure and poor teacher training are blamed for this. Another factor, in an area ravaged by the impact of HIV/AIDS, is the number of orphaned, abused or traumatised learners attending these schools. The demands of formal learning in already difficult circumstances are particularly challenging to anxious children and educational performance is likely to be affected. As traditional families break up, children become confused and vulnerable to abuse.
The MMAEP fieldworkers have recently attended an ‘Alternatives to Violence Project’ workshop and are busy integrating what they have learnt into lessons appropriate to educators and learners on how to deal with conflict situations.
Road safety is an important lesson frequently requested. Creative outfits, road signs and a laid out course for all participants makes this highly educational and very entertaining.
Other Bug lessons include “Shop, shop” - where learners are guided in how to make appropriate choices, avoiding over processed and over packaged unhealthy goods. The nutrition game is played with questions about healthy choices and played with giant dice on a giant snakes and ladders board.
