The Green Door Literacy & Creative Education Community Project Funding Proposal
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Mission
To strengthen the literacy & creativity of each individual, young and old, in the community.
Background
Over the past 3 years, Chanene van As has been running the Green Door Fairy Garden in Weber Valley Road, Jamestown, Stellenbosch. Her focus was children’s parties and the enchanted Fairy Tea Garden.
It came to her attention that there is a great need for Reading & Writing Support. After making contact with Weber Gedenk Primary and Stellenzicht Secondary, it came to light that the need spreads across all grades. Primary School Teachers have to cope with up to 30 learners per class. In some grades, up to 60% of the learners need additional learning assistance when it comes to literacy and 43% of the learners need additional learning assistance when it comes to numeracy. The learning assistant teacher of Weber Gedenk, rotates between different schools in the area and she does not have enough time to see to the needs of all the children; a problem that needs urgent attention.
With a Diploma in Senior Primary Education (Bloemfontein College), as well as a Post Graduate Diploma in Learners with Special Needs (US), she has over 7 years’ experience in Special Education. Chanene was also involved with 5 local Primary schools in Stellenbosch, as well as After Care and Holiday Programmes at Kabouterland, a local day care centre. Her love for children and passion to teach was the motivation to provide help. In March 2009 the Green Door Literacy & Creative Education Community Project (GDP) came to life.
The first step of phase one was implemented when the GDP started to provide Reading & Writing Support to an additional 20 learners in Grade 2 at Weber Gedenk Primary.
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Goals
The purpose of the Green Door Literacy & Creative Education Community Project is to assist the learners of the Primary & Secondary school in the community with their literacy, through additional reading & writing assessments & assistance. The objective is to assist all learners with reading and writing difficulties, so they are motivated to finish their grades successfully. We would also like to further the literacy levels of the whole community, by offering literacy classes to adults. This will only be implemented in phase 7 (seven) of the Green Door Project.
We want to stimulate learners and residents in the community through creative activities, ranging from colouring-in to sport and physical movement, depending on the age-group. Through the combination of intellectual and creative stimulation we hope to give people a stronger sense of belonging and importance.
Our focus is currently targeted at Weber Gedenk Primary and we hope to extend our support to Stellenzicht Secondary and the Jamestown Community as a whole in the near future. The need for Stellenzicht Secondary is not only with learning and writing support. There are limited after-school recreational and sport activities for the scholars. The Green Door Project plans to start addressing this need in 2010. Through our Creative Education programme, we wish to introduce the children to new activities, sport and creative arts and crafts. The time spend at the Green Door Fairy Garden will encourage them to spend their time productively though creative, physical and other social activities in a structured environment.
This Non-profit, non-government organisation is a Voluntary Association, currently awaiting their Non-profit Registration Number. (See Appendice A)
7 Phase Plan
Phase 1 Weber Gedenk Primary School
Step 1 Reading & Writing Support for Grade 2 learners Implemented: March ’09
The Green Door Project assists 20 learners in Grade 2 with their Reading & Writing needs. These 20 learners are divided into 4 groups of 5 each and receives 1 hour of Reading & Writing Support per week.
Step 2 Complete literacy evaluation: Grade 1 – Grade 7 Due Date: September ‘09
We are currently busy with negotiations with Weber Gedenk Primary to implement a software programme called “Learner Profile” in the school to asses each learner individually and identify the reading and writing needs for each child. Dalene Swart (Treasurer) will co-ordinate the assessments sessions at the school. There will be no additional work for the teachers and this programme will help them understand the specific individual needs of each learner. (See Appendice B for further information on this software package.)
Weber Gedenk Primary currently educates 567 learners and their Computer Room can accommodate 20 learners at a time. With the age groups taken into consideration, we have to run 30 one-hour sessions per evaluation.
To evaluate and keep track of each learner’s individual needs and progress, we need to asses each learner at the beginning and end of every term. A total of 8 evaluations per year, thus 250 sessions per year.
Step 3 Reading & Writing Support for Grade 3 – Grade 7
Step 4 Creative Development at Green Door Fairy Garden
The Creative Development Programme will focus on arts, crafts hobbies and sport.
Phase 2 Stellenzicht Secondary School
Step 1 Complete literacy evaluation: Grade 8 – Grade 12
Step 2 Reading & Writing Support for Grade 8 – Grade 12
Step 3 Creative Development at Green Door Fairy Garden
Phase 3 After School Care & Homework Assistance
We would like to implement this as soon as possible, but need funds to pay rent for the use of premises at the Green Door Fairy Garden, situated in the main street of Jamestown. This suitable venue is a short walk from the school.
We want to provide a save educational environment where the learners of both the Primary and Secondary Schools in Jamestown can get together to do their homework, study for tests and exams or to do projects under adult supervision. The aim is also to provide learners with a nutritional snack or lunch. After school care will also include creative activities and playtime in the tree house or sandpit.
Phase 4 Establishing Social Clubs
Step 1 Grade 8 – Grade 12
Step 2 Young Working people
Step 3 Senior Adults
Different social clubs for different age groups will give us the opportunity to introduce age appropriate creative activities where each person can discover and use their individual talents. Arts and crafts that are made by the individuals will then also be for sale at the Green Door Gift Shop. Hobbies, arts and crafts can be put to good use and generate an additional income for the individuals.
Phase 5 Gift Shop
Green Door Fairy Garden has a licence to operate a Gift Shop. The Green Door Gift Shop will sell handmade items produced by the children and community members of Jamestown. Proceeds will go to the artist, craftsman, jeweller or producer of the product. The aim of the Green Door Gift Shop is to provide a retail space for the community members’ arts, crafts and handmade products.
Phase 6 “Sponsor a Child”
In addition to raise funds for the Green Door Project, we will offer potential donors the opportunity to get involved by sponsoring a child’s Reading & Writing Support or other school necessities e.g. school clothes, books, stationary etc.
Option 1: Literacy Evaluation @ R100 per person, per session.
8 Sessions per year = R800 per person, per year.
Option 2: Literacy Support @ R50 per person, per session.
42 sessions per year = R2 100 per person, per year.
Option 3: School clothes, accessories and stationary @ R600 per learner per year.
Phase 7 Jamestown Community
Step 1 Literacy for Adults
Some adults in Jamestown cannot read or write. This makes it difficult for parents to help their children with homework. It can also create communication difficulties with their children, because the children may have an attitude that they are better than their parents. This imbalance can be addressed through literacy education for adults in need. The implementation of Phase 3 – After School Care & Homework Assistance, will also ease possible difficulties at home.
The Green Door Project strives to keep the children off the street, away from the gangs, drugs and mischievous temptations, while giving them an education they can be proud of.
Financial Needs
One year’s Financial Needs:
Reading & Writing Support 20 x Grade 2’s Remuneration R 42 000.00
(20 learners x R50 per session x 42 sessions per year)
Literacy Assessments 567 Learners Remuneration R 24 000.00
(30 sittings x 8 Assessment x R100 per sitting)
Sub-Total: R 66 000.00
Rent (80m² x R80) R 64 000.00
(R4000.00 x 12 months)
Total: R130 000.00
A feedback report will be submitted 4 times a year. This will include proof of payments, with regards to Salaries and Remunerations. A summary of each term’s assessments will also accompany the progress report of the 20 Reading & Writing Support Learners.
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Word of Thanks
We would like to thank you for the opportunity to introduce the Green Door Project to you. Should you have any questions or queries, please contact Dalene Swart.
We extend an open invitation to you to visit The Green Door Fairy Garden and the Green Door Project.
We belief in an open door policy, we would like to inform you that a 10% commission fee, on funds raised, is payable to the Fundraiser for services rendered.
