Reports and Letters

This page provides reports and letters prepared by OSHC SA or OSHC Foundation members which may be of interest to the membership.

December 16, 2004

Dear Friends,

 Sophie van Vuuren is sending this from a friend’s computer (van den Heever, Rolanda) I have problems to register an e mail address and can only get to a computer once a month. This is to let you know that we received the package from you on the 9th Dec. I was so thrilled, THANK YOU, THANK YOU, THANK YOU!

 Everything was in good order. I wanted your address, when you asked me in August is that all you want (your name) the thoughts were going through my brain: how we have problems in this small town to get to a computer... and how expensive the postage is.

 Now, as it meant to be, the day I received the package, my assistant Julia Dibane was in town, waiting for someone, right at the post office. I said to her: tell your people you are going with me for half an hour to open this parcel. Also one of the parents, a member of my parent/teacher committee came past and we showed him the gift from you. Me and Julia had the privilege and the pleasure to open and enjoyed looking through it all. I was stunned to see that you paid 177 US Dollar for postage, to me it sounds like a lot of money, expensive, so we are all the more appreciating this. I am convinced you and your friends enjoyed selecting the items. And then I realized that you included a lot of items with us, the teachers in mind, to make our life easier, the hand sanitizer we cannot find in our country at all. We appreciate everything you included. The two covers we are going to use as a floor cover, I often need something like this to work with a smaller group in that first room where we have no carpet.

 The toothpaste and brushes you brought us Aug: These were about 16 or 18; I bought 7 more to have enough for our regular children which are 25. Then I obtained a very nice coloured picture of a healthy tooth A4 size, from a dentist doctor, had it laminated, then I started a daily session for a week about hygiene in the kitchen, the bathroom, then about teeth and brushing twice daily and then only the gift of brushes from you were handed over to each child, reminding them of the lady from the far off country! As you can imagine, we had fun. Your letter in the package will be posted against the wall, for parents to see. Please note I can only get to a computer once a month. I have to say goodbye now. Please give your children at school a hug from us all and be sure we appreciate your gift.

 Season’s greetings

 From Sophie van Vuuren Boshof Kareehof Preschool Playgroup

September 20, 2004

Dear Mr. Hagen,

            Thank you for inviting me to participate in the activities with the South African schools in conjunction with the One Shot Hunt Club SA. It was an incredible experience filled with memories that will last a lifetime!

            I would like to reflect upon my observations and findings. I hope this will assist the Foundation’s officers in identifying specific ways in which teachers can effectively support the Foundation in accomplishing its objectives.

            A brief introduction of myself may be helpful. I have been a schoolteacher for 22 years. I hold a certificate with a Masters plus 30. My areas of certification include Special Education and Early Childhood. I will not elaborate on my philosophy of education but my personal feelings and beliefs about teaching are:

v     All children should be given the opportunity to learn.

v     All children can learn.

v     All children should experience success.

Prior to visiting the schools, I attended a meeting with Two South African school officials, Phil Rank, and Hector Kitscha. We described to the school officials the nature of the supplies that were scheduled to be sent to the schools in South Africa. These supplies would be targeted for those students in grades one through twelve. We wanted to be sure that the supplies were appropriate and would be beneficial to the teachers and students. We had some discussion about the usefulness of US textbooks. It was determined that even if the textbooks were not the sole method of instruction that they would be an excellent resource to the teachers and a good supplemental textbook for the students.

            During our meeting, I expressed my educational concerns for the four and five year olds. Where were they going to school? Who were their teachers? How were they being prepared for grade one? Research indicates that the first five years of a child’s life are the most critical! However, I got the impression that “formal” school did not begin until grade one. Therefore, the four and five year olds appeared to be a separate entity.

            At the conclusion of our meeting, I was eagerly awaiting our visit to the two schools. Kromellenboog Combined School is located in Christiana and Aramela Combined School is located in Boshof. We were staying about 10 miles from Boshof. So, a phone call was made to the principal at Aramela and Hector, Phil, Lulu and myself went for a visit. I spent about an hour in Ms. Elizabeth’s sixth grade class. She had 45 students. Wow! Ms. Elizabeth has 20 years of teaching experience and was a very friendly, warm, and professional individual. Her students love and respect her. During my observation she demonstrated a lesson on safety that included a poem/song with body movements and concluded with some comprehension questions. The whole classroom experience moved me to tears. I applauded the children and told them I would return in a few days. On my way out I asked Ms. Elizabeth if I could bring them a “sweetie” when I returned and she obliged. I had a gallon size zip lock bag full of candy in my suitcase and I wanted to share it with these wonderful children.

            Following the One Shot in Aventura, about 20 club members and professional hunters visited Kromellenboog Combined School in Christiana. This school is also referred to as “Beefmaster”. The program took place outside and it was very cold! It included an opening prayer, entertainment from the choir, words from several dignitaries, the distribution of one blanket and one bag of meal per child, and concluded with refreshments for the guests.

            The school appeared to be neat and clean. I got the opportunity to observe a home economics classroom. The students were taking a cooking exam. I was impressed with the level of concentration of the students. I did not talk specifically with any teachers or students during our visit. However, my overall observation was that the implementation of computer technology would benefit the entire school. The sooner the better! The social and physical development of children is also important. I would recommend some type of outdoor equipment to promote these areas of development: for example, sliding boards, swings, basketball courts, obstacle courses, jump ropes, balls, etc. It is important to educate the “whole” child.

            Our second school visit was in Boshof. The streets were lined with well- wishers as we approached the school. We followed a group of marching students onto the school grounds. Again, the program included an opening prayer, entertainment from the choir, a distribution of blankets and meal, remarks and expressions of appreciation for the donations, and concluded with the entire school singing the national anthem. Guests were invited for finger sandwiches and hot tea following the program. Before we left, I had a chance to revisit Ms. Elizabeth’s sixth grade class. I passed out candy to each of the 45 students as promised. The smiles and expressions of gratitude prompted a Kodak moment.

            Aramela serves 1,500 students in grades one through twelve. There are 18 classrooms, all of which are in dire need of a physical and educational facelift. The toilets are deplorable, so bad that the boys go to the fence for relief. The classrooms are deprived of heat or air-conditioning. Meals are not provided at school. How much can a child learn when he is hungry, thirsty, hot, or cold? The classroom doors were dilapidated. The tables and chairs in the classrooms were functional to some extent, but the rooms were void of color. They appeared to be so gloomy and far from stimulating. I spent some time talking with Ms. Elizabeth about a “wish list” for their school. Together we agreed that the following items would help meet the needs of Aramela Combined School as well as enhance the educational process of the students:

            Physical Needs

v     Improve restrooms

v     Building repairs

v     Playground (swings, slides, obstacle courses, basketball courts)

v      Playground supplies (balls, hula hoops, jump ropes, parachutes,)

v     Cleaning supplies for classrooms

v     Material for classroom curtains

v     Bulletin board paper

v     Posters

v     Sports uniforms (net ball/soccer)

Educational Needs

v     Textbooks (English, science, math, health)

v     Paper, pencils, colored pens, colored pencils, crayons, scissors, tape, construction paper, etc.

v     Books for pleasure reading

v     Cassette players

v     Books on tape

v     Magazines

v     Dictionaries

v     CD players/ CD’s

v     Abacus for younger children

v     Book bags

v     Computers

Needless to say, Aramela was a school with needs in all areas of physical and academic development. However, despite these needs, a sense of pride was evident among the faculty members and students. Maybe they don’t know what they are missing. But, in my heart I know that they deserve more than what they have.

There was one more school that Francois de wet wanted me to visit. It was located in Boshof. On the morning prior to our departure to the United States, his brother (Jakes) took me to Kareehof Preschool. That particular morning Ms. Sophie and her assistant had approximately 26 three and four year olds. Attendance was unpredictable but ranged between 22 and 30 each day. The preschool was located in a community center that had a tall wire fence around the outside of the brick building. Jakes and I were extremely well received. I talked briefly with Ms. Sophie while her assistant monitored their students. After meeting the children I read some books that I had brought to them, they recited some rhymes for me, and we took some photos. I felt very comfortable in their environment. It was clean, neat, and spacious. However, there was an absence of materials to meet the educational needs of these individuals. Ms. Sophie and her assistant were doing the best they could but have nothing to work with. I decided almost immediately that this preschool would become a personal outreach of mine. My goal is to send a care package in October. They need scissors, paper, glue, pencils, blocks, puppets, markers, dolls, books, paint, puzzles, CD’s, toys, swings, slides, balls, jump ropes, and more. I am unable to provide all of the educational materials that they need, but I know they will appreciate and utilize anything that they receive.

            I feel honored to have visited three schools in South Africa and would not hesitate to say that the physical and educational status of these schools is in jeopardy. The teachers are dedicated and the students are eager to learn but the schools are lacking the resources to meet the needs of the students. Opportunities must be provided so that all students will possess a firm foundation in social, emotional, physical, and academic development. The One Shot Hunt Club SA has made the commitment to provide resources to assist in meeting the needs of the schools. In addition, a partnership between the schools and their communities will also aid the students in becoming successful members of society. Ultimately, our children are our future and we must invest in them wisely.

Educationally,