ABOUT
The Family Literacy Project began in 2000 to address the concern raised by findings of research conducted by Khulisa Management Services that showed no improvement in the early literacy levels in pre-schoolers, despite training and support provided through the national Department of Education. To explore the role of families, the FLP held workshops in rural sites in southern KwaZulu-Natal for adults caring for children at home. These workshops provided opportunities for adults to discuss, learn and experiment with ways they could use everyday experiences and materials to build early literacy skills in their children. A participatory rural appraisal conducted late in 2000 showed that the adults wanted to improve their own literacy. Five women, chosen by the FLP groups to become facilitators, were trained in adult literacy , early literacy and the participatory Reflect approach. Teaching units were developed to meet the interest of family literacy group members on topics such as child protection, committee skills, HIV/AIDS and special days. Building on the success of our work over the past six years, six new facilitators joined our project in May 2006.
Our 3 co-ordinators and 3 facilitators work in villages in deep rural areas of southern KwaZulu-Natal, using school classrooms, community halls, churches, and community libraries for their meetings. The sites are: Xosheyakhe; Come and See, Mathendeni all near Bulwer, Lotheni, Stepmore, and Makholweni near Underberg and Mpumlwane and Ndodeni, near Centocow In 2010 we are starting work in 4 new villages in the district.
Back to Top
The Family Literacy Project is a registered Section 21 Company with a board of directors that meets as a management team once a quarter:
Jenny Aitchison (Subject Librarian (retired), University of KwaZulu-Natal)
Thoko Bhedla (ABET specialist, national Department of Education)
Wilna Botha (Director, Media in Education Trust)
Pat Dean (Director, Operation Upgrade)
Snoeks Desmond (ECD Consultant and former director of Family Literacy Project)
Sbongile Mtungwa (Director, Women’s Leadership and Training Programme – Emthonjeni)
Mimi Kunene (ECD specialist , KwaZulu-Natal Department of Education)
Lynn van der Elst (Director, Media in Education Trust)
FLP’s current team members are:
Director: Lynn Stefano (joined 2006).
Co-ordinators: Florence Molefe, Zimbili Dlamini and Phumzile Ngubo (joined 2000).
Facilitators: Joyce Ndolovu, Tholakele Mkhize, and Zenzile Shelembe (joined 2008).
Consultants: Chris Gibson (Child health specialist) and Jill Frow (Staff development and monitoring), Norma Russell (Libraries) and Felicity Champkin (ECD specialist) complement the team.
From late 2000 the staff has included Snoeks Desmond (Director from 2000-2007), Pierre Horn (Project co-ordinator), and facilitators Fiselani Linda, Londi Gambu, and Nelly Shezi.Two Peace Corps (USA) volunteers, Leanne Wolff and Safi Ahmed, joined us in October 2005 for two years. Others who have been part of the team at times from 2000 – 2005 are Thoko Dlamini, S’bongile Madiba, Nonzuzo Mbanjwa and Nomusa Ndlovu.
Courses completed by our facilitators:
Mother Tongue Adult Literacy Facilitation: Operation Upgrade
English Second Language Facilitation: Operation Upgrade
REFLECT training and REFLECT refresher training
HIV/Aids counselling course arranged by Operation Upgrade
Integrated Management of Childhood Illness
Home based care course arranged by Operation Upgrade
Play Therapy for bereaved children by Rob Smetherton Bereavement Trust
Who Am I? (Personality and Human Relations course)
Psycho-Social care of young children run by RESSPI and attended by Zimbili Dlamini
Parenting Course run by TREE and attended by Florence Molefe
Make and Play workshop run by Children’s Rights Centre
Idasa advocacy training attended by Zimbili Dlamini
Dancing Pencils writing workshop
Paraffin Safety in the home
Foundation course in children’s rights run by the Children’s Rights Centre attended by Joyce Ndlovu and Nathi Khanyile