Reading is FUN – FunDza Family members at the workshop
Beneficiary groups who receive our books often ask for training on how to use the books and other FunDza materials, more effectively. On 1 November 2018, FunDza hosted a FunDza Family workshop with various reading groups around Cape Town. Twelve people from the different beneficiary groups attended from Ikamva Youth Gugulethu, Ikamva Youth Makhaza, Ikamva Youth Kuyasa, iThemba Labantu, Marang A Letsatsi, Sophumelela High School, Beautiful Gate, Just Grace and lastly Ikusasa Lelethu. Dorothy facilitated the workshop and Nandi assisted in terms of setting up the workshop and the overall administration.
We focused on how to get young people engaged with the text in a meaningful way through discussion and roleplays. We also touched on writing, as this too can so often be a barrier for learners, who seldom get opportunities to write for expression and enjoyment (not ‘for marks’). Nandi also did a virtual ‘tour’ of the mobi site, and participants were excited to see all that there was on offer. Ice-breaker games are also always popular!
After the workshop we asked the participants to share their experience of the workshop – here is some feedback:
Phelela from Ikamva Youth, Kuyasa: “It was a good experience for me and I have gained a lot of information. I have learned so much and it helped me to have ideas on how to plan for sessions and how to conduct reading sessions.”
Sisonke from Ikusasa Lelethu: “It is said that the more you acquire skills on how you bring stories to life the more you personally grow as an individual. The workshop brought life into my reading club sessions. The activities and ways to make the story interesting has made some of the learners to attend more and become excited as they are eager to see what we will be doing each time we meet. The workshop was a great success and many more of them will enable us to work towards making reading enjoyable to many other young people out there.”
Yongama from Just Grace: “I found it very helpful especially for new facilitator’s like myself. I learnt the best ways to make the club enjoyable. I loved it!”
The workshop proved worthwhile and we hope we can run such workshops with other groups outside of Western Cape. Thanks to Beautiful Gate for allowing us to make use of their offices to run the workshop.