The Social Employment Fun (SEF) project, as detailed in the February 2024 issue of the Kruger2Canyon News, is a testament to the power of collective action. With between 300 – 320 participants dedicating an average of two days per week ‘for the greater good’, the project spans various communities from Acornhoek to Sekororo, fostering a sense of community and shared purpose.
Mathematical proficiency development through numiknow™ clubs, as described in the previous issues, is one component of the project. It also works to develop mathematical proficiency in creches and Early Childhood Development (ECD) centres through the numiknow R-Games. Adults are involved in mathematical proficiency development through the numiknow™ F-Game – a board game based on presenting numbers through basic operations, and solving problems with answers, once more presented through dominoes.
Environmental awareness in the communities is promoted through clubs in primary and secondary schools, where curriculum-related topics are introduced practically to increase understanding. The huge task of environmental monitoring, including water quality, waste management, sand mining, etc., is also a crucial part of the project in supporting the great work the Kruger to Canyons Biosphere Reserve is doing, and assisting awareness in the communities.
The last component of the SEF project was the development and support of vegetable gardens at schools and in the communities, to assist feeding schemes in preparing more nutritious meals for the learners. A variety of vegetables were planted in January 2024. As some of the vegetables are now being harvested, the participants realised that a successful gardener demands a lot of ‘tender love and care’ to produce a good harvest and that nature, the heat, drought and lack or access of water, are all variables that need a good amount of management to produce good yields. The goal of the project is to provide, in total, 1 500 kg of different kinds of vegetable to the feeding schemes, including, spinach, beetroot, cabbage, tomatoes, peppers, and chillies to the value of about R75 000.
Back to numiknow™ and some interesting turns to introducing mathematical proficiency in the communities.
After the Dinkwanyane Water Smart project, a feedback meeting was held in Phiring village. It was here that the parents, witnessing the transformative effects of the numiknow™ club on their children, were inspired to request its continuation. This proactive stance led to the forming of a volunteer committee, in collaboration with Hoedspruit Hub, to drive numeracy development in the village, sparking hope for a brighter educational future.
At German S Chiloane Secondary School in Brooklyn, Acornhoek, the parents of Grade 8 and 9 learners participating in the afternoon, Saturday and holiday activities, were invited to demonstrate the various numiknow™ games. They participated and thoroughly enjoyed the experience. This led them to request more opportunities for their own development, culminating in forming a weekly parents club.
Another numiknow™ competition ended on 31 March 2024. This competition was launched for the learners who previously participated in a competition between Thorometsane and Matlabong Primary Schools in November 2024. The general achievement of the winning team was lower than 55% and so it was decided to set a specific minimum requirement for them to achieve by 31 March 2024. The first person who successfully achieved the goal could win R1 000 and two sets of dominoes for the school.
On the school’s closing date on 20 March 2024, there were still no entries! The facilitators told us that some learners were preparing and would use the holiday to practice more!
The outcome was that three learners put up their hands to be assessed, of whom one was evaluated twice. The improvement was impressive, and although no one won the R 1 000 cash, Kgotlelelo Mgiba from Matlabong in the Malaeneng village, was awarded a set of dominoes worth R 1 000 for her perseverance and commitment and achieving more than 90% of the set goals! It proved that external motivation through rewards does have a definite role in improving mathematical proficiency.
In the next edition, we will have a good idea if the results of this project lead to another SEF project being awarded to us from July 2024 to April 2025, to continue the great work done by the community participants.
To contact Thias Taute about numiknow™ you can do so through the Hoedspruit Hub: 079 502 4727 or on email thias@hoedspruithub.com
