By Dorothy Dyer
The Year Beyond is an interesting and challenging Western Cape Government project that had in this last year young volunteers going into 16 local no-fee paying schools and running extra-mural support programmes for learners in the afternoons. The volunteers also go through a process of self-development through workshops and a leadership course run by Stellenbosch University. We were involved as content providers of online English support material at the schools, and so I received an invitation to their final event as the volunteers leave the programme. (The project will continue next year with new volunteers.)
I have to confess, I sometimes rather dread end-of-year events, fearing long speeches and drawn-out affairs. But at the Year Beyond ceremony I participated in making music with the MOST marvellous Rhythm Workshop, and also danced to ‘Happy’ by Pharrel Williams, following the lively Vusi up on stage. Then the speeches were all so sincere and heartfelt that although the event was long, it never felt drawn out. (Another plus: the lunch was delicious.) FunDza gave books to two volunteers who independently submitted their written work to our FunDza Fanz section – both are very moving pieces that you can read here:
- Cancer by Thabang Magaola
- Failure you came by Pontsho Godfrey Molahlegi
So it was a happy ending to what has been an interesting year – full of learnings – for all those involved in the Year Beyond!
We’re delighted that FunDza will be continuing to provide its online English support programme next year for this project.