Oprah Winfrey Leadership Academy for Girls   

How to use this School page:

 

• On this page you will introduce yourself to the other groups/classes in your Learning Circle and post your challenge contributions. 
  
• We ask you to share not only the results, but also the learning process of how you discussed, planned, divided tasks etc..in your own group. 

 

Giving and receiving feedback:

 

• On this page you will also find text boxes for feedback received from other groups in your Circles.
• We ask you to give feedback to two other groups / classes in your Circle directly on their school page.
  Please click here for the feedback-schedule , it will guide you to the school pages.
• If you want to give feedback to another (additional, extra) group, please add it on the school page of that group or use the comment box at the bottom of the school page.

 

---

---

 

Introduction:

 

Hi there everyone. My name is Thomas Tervit and teach History at the Academy. I also run the President's Awards programme at my school. This is the South African chapter of the Duke of Edinburgh Programme for Youth Empowerment. The girls have to learn a new skill as part of the programme and we are using this opportunity to learn new skills surround the use of a wiki as a tool to create a virtual learning space. I have been teaching for 30 years and I still love and enjoy my job. I am passionate about my country and I am proudly South African. I have been happily married for 31 years. I have two dogs as pets. I love to play and watch sport especially football and golf.I am looking forward to seeing all the interesting discussions that will come from the challenges that we are embarking on.

 

I am Alutho Zomsi Mdzoyi, I was born on the 7 of August 2001 and I am currently in grade 9. I am from Samora Machel, suburb in Cape Town and I live with my mother and father. I am the only child. I love singing, dancing, playing netball, speaking and being with friends and family. My home language is Xhosa. I love challenges and my goal is to make a change in my community and country. I would like to be a Youth Ambassador after I graduate from university. 

 

My name is Nkosiphile Mavundla. I was born 13 September 2000. I come from Johannesburg in Gauteng. I am the younger of two children. My favourite colour is blue and I love to dance in my free time. My favourite sports are netball and swimming. I attend school at Oprah Winfrey Leadership Academy also known as OWLAG. My home language is IsiZulu. At home I live with my mother and my youngest sister. Three words to describe myself as are:

·         Quiet but once I get to know to you I talk a lot,

·         Shy

·          Kind 

 

My name is Latita Jolobe. I live in Port St Johns in the Eastern Cape in South Africa. I am a Xhosa speaker. Xhosa is one of the 11 official languages we have in South Africa. I am currently in grade 9 at the Oprah Winfrey Leadership Academy for Girls. I participate in swimming, karate, choir and a fitness class. I am learning how to play the guitar and I am also a part of the Library Committee. 

 

Hi my name is Mpho Zwane. I am a 14 year old girl. I attend the Oprah Winfrey Leadership Academy for Girls, OWLAG for short. My home language is Sesotho, but I am of Swati descent. I enjoy playing sports such as Karate, Hockey, Swimming and Soccer.  My favourite colours are blue and black. I would describe myself as weird to people. I am slightly socially awkward. I do not take pictures if I have a choice. I would rather be reading than to take a single picture. If I do take a picture I become really uncomfortable. Many people think that I am ashamed of my body or anything that has to do with not loving who I am, but really, I just don’t enjoy taking pictures.  Overall I am a really nice person (I think). I would really like to know the person/ people on the other end of this introduction. 

 

 

My name is Keren Banza which means “pure one”. I am originally from the Democratic Republic of Congo where I spend four years of my life until we moved to South Africa. I know live in the South of Johannesburg in Gauteng with my parents and two siblings. I am shy and rather reserved by nature but once you get to know me you see a louder, fun and very inquisitive side to me. I do not like leaving a question unanswered and I always try my best to be positive about every situation.  Down to earth might not be the right words to describe me because I can be rather dramatic but if you need a shoulder to cry on, someone to make you laugh, some advice or even if you are looking for an insight on what world issues we are facing today, I’m your girl!  

 

My name is Molebogeng Nqwala. I am 14 years of age. I was born and raised in Gauteng. I am currently studying at Oprah Winfrey Leadership Academy for Girls and I’m a grade 9 student. I take part in a couple of extra mural activities. I am also learning how to play a musical instrument.

 

My name is Tebogo (thank you/thanks) Tsele. I was born 09 October 2001. I am born and raised in Krugersdorp in Gauteng, South Africa,. I am a Setswana speaking person. My favourite colours are black and pink but mostly black. I am the last born at home and I have an older brother. I really love my family especially my niece. I am currently attending OWLAG in Grade 9. I am a very adventurous, ambitious, courageous, lovely and very friendly person. I can be very sarcastic at times and also very dramatic. I love giving people hugs especially when I see that they need them (even got a nickname Cuddles from my bestie Keren). I am the kind of person who you can talk to when you feel like it or when you need a shoulder to cry on. I really like taking pictures especially selfies. My favourite sports are netball and tennis, but also participate in swimming. I play the trumpet. I really don’t have a specific music genre; as long as the song is nice to me I listen to it. Currently my favourite song is Company by Justin Bieber. I really love meeting new people and also going to new places.

 

My name is Eve Mashamba and I am a Xitsonga speaking girl. I am the elder of 2 girls. I am from Dlamini which is in Soweto and people around me mostly speak IsiZulu. I attend school at The Oprah Winfrey Leadership Academy for Girls. At home I stay with my mom, dad and young sister. My favourite colours are red and pink. My favourite food is fish and chips and I love Doritos sweet chilli pepper flavour. I do not have a specific genre of music but if the song has no offensive language and is nice to listen to, then I will probably like. Currently my favourite song is Something Beautiful by Kelly Tori. I love spending time with my family, especially my cousins and I love watching movies. My favourite sport is tennis. I feel really good when I help someone because I know that I have made a difference in someone’s life. I really love laughing!  I laugh because it makes me feel good when I’m down and it is a really fun thing to do when I’m bored.

 

I am Kaamila Sissing, I was born on the 29^th of August in 2001 so I am 14 years old. I live in the West Rand in the province of Gauteng. I attend the Oprah Winfrey Leadership Academy For Girls. I am in grade 9.  I am an English first language speaker. I am very excited about President’s Award and am determined to finish it. My hobbies are reading, listening to music, swimming and I do karate which I really enjoy. I am looking really forward to participating in this Learning Circle.

 

Hi my name is Lithemba Manana and I am from Port Elizabeth in the Eastern Cape. I am 14 years old and I was born on the 18_th of May 2001. I live with my Grandma, Mother and Aunt in a township. My favourite type of music is pop and I don’t really have a favourite musician. My favourite actress is Cameron Diaz and my home language is Xhosa and I don’t speak it that much here at school. 

 

 

I am Tshwanelo Mafatle from the Free-State in South Africa. I am currently 14 and will be turning 15 on December the 7^th. I am a 9^th grader in a school named the Oprah Winfrey Leadership Academy for Girls. I am part of President’s Awards and my mission is completing it. Sesotho is my home language and I live in a place where English is second preference. I am a person who enjoys swimming and Service. I am self-aware, conscious of my surroundings and, lastly, I am very affectionate.

My name is Veronic Van der Westhuizen and I am an Afrikaans speaking girl. I am the oldest of 3 siblings. I am from Pretoria. At home I stay with my mom, dad, younger sister and younger brother. My favourite colours are blue and purple. My favourite food is hamburgers. I like hip hop music mostly, however, if I just want to relax I like to listen to calm music. In my free time I love spending time with my family and hang out with friends and I love movies. My favourite sport is hockey, however, I do not like fitness so much. One thing I love about myself is that I am friendly most of the time and always help where I can.

 

Hi my name is Michelle Madiba; my hometown is Mapetla which is in Soweto. I love dancing, music and reading. My favourite book series is Percy Jackson and The Olympians. My home language is Sesotho. I live with my mother and my two little sisters. I am currently in grade 9. 

 

Hi! My name is Télyn Manuel from Eshowe in Kwa- Zulu Natal. I find myself to be a slightly introverted person who loves socialising (!?!) My favourite subjects are Mathematics, Science and Music. Some of my hobbies include reading, baking, listening to music and karate. I have an intense passion for genuine literature, hockey, and music as well as quantum physics. I am looking forward to being a part of President’s Award as I feel that it will play a part in helping to mould me into the person I think that everyone on the planet should be. One of my life goals is to get a PhD in the Mathematics-Science field.

 

My name is Sthembile Gayeni. I am the third born of four children. I am from Mayville, Kwa-Zulu-Natal. I live with my mom and baby sister. My home language is isiZulu and isiXhosa but I can also speak: English and a bit of Sotho. I love netball and I also love drama as I am in the OWLAG drama club. I also enjoy interacting with other people and getting to know their way of thinking towards certain things.

 

 

Reflective questions children’s right

 

What are you allowed to do?

We discussed that we are allowed to have friends sleeping over at our homes or we go and sleep at their homes. We have also noticed we are only allowed to do this because our guardians want us to be happy and not seem like they have very strict rules.

 What are you not allowed to do?

We are not allowed to wonder around the streets mostly because we are girls and we think that if we were boys we would be allowed to do so. We think this is so because our communities are still living in the impression of Boys being more important and being able to protect themselves against crimes and girls are weak.

What do you have to do?

We have to do our house chores and make sure that the house is clean to show that there is a “girl” living in the house. We also have to make sure that we follow instructions because it is a way of showing respect.

What happens if there are no rules?

If there are no rules we would be able to fulfill the desires of our hearts, doing what people call YOLO (You Only Live Once). We think this may cause trouble because our desires are not always good and adults never know what goes on in our minds. Without rules things tend to get messy as people just do as they like and don’t consider each other.

What happens if there are too many rules?

When there are too many rules the children start to feel overwhelmed and start to become rebellious and want to do the things they were told not to do.

What rights do children in your country have?

Children in our country have the right to: . They also have the right to 

Every child has the right to –

• a name and a nationality from birth
• family or parental care
• be protected from neglect and abuse.  
• basic nutrition, shelter, basic health care services and social services   
• A proper basic education
• Be treated fairly and to be heard
• Freedom of thought and religion 

 

Do these also apply in different countries?

These rights do not apply in some countries such as Zambia. Our research also tells us that the USA has not ratified a convention of the right of the child.

http://www.humanium.org/en/americas/united-states-of-america/\

What should adults in your environment take care of?

Adults in our environment should take care of their children. Adults should also save the primary resources for the future generation. 

They have to make sure that children’s rights are properly enforced.

Why is this?

This is because there is a lot of child abuse and social issues such as Bullying and emotional torture. They should save the primary because things such as coal, it is very likely to run out and the next generation will probably need it.This is because to create a better generation you have to groom them properly from the beginning.

What should the government take care of?

In terms of Children’s rights, we think that the government should make sure that the basic human rights of every child in our country is supplied to them without fail and with no questions asked. The life of a child is very fragile and it is very easy to make or break a child by the simple things that they go through every single day. The government should make sure that every child in our country has access to a basic education and lives is a clean, safe and loving home with people who care for them and love them. Children should be protected from violence and any form of abuse toward them and should be removed from threatening environments. We believe that the South African government can definitely do more for South African children. We think that they should stop waiting for organisations, especially ones from other countries to come to our country to make sure that children are getting what they deserve as human beings and what they are entitled to, and do something themselves. Managing finances in our country is a problem, especially finances for the needs of people and most importantly, children. A small action from where we stand could be a great action in shaping the lives of children in our country and all over the world. No one knows enough about the troubles that children face and the things that they go through every single day.

Children need their basic rights in order to survive and people think that it is only the government’s duty to make sure that children get what they are entitled to. We were happy when we heard of the conferences held all over the world in the support of children and standing up for their rights. This is because the next child you see starving in the rain on the side of the road could be the next Nobel Prize winner, president or even the person to find the cure for HIV/AIDS. Our point is that children are the future and if people all around the world don’t realise that children are important, then we are doomed to a future where the world is in peril. Anyone can do something, so how about you?

 

The government should also take care of the country’s economy as in our country the South African the economy is not as good as in other countries. They government should ensure that social services and the rights of children are protected by implementing policies and programmes. 

Who decides?

The South African people should decide even though the government is not listening and this makes it very difficult to sustain the country’s economy because our government does whatever it wants with the money.  

When are you very happy?

We were very happy when we are with our families especially with our sisters with whom we do many crazy things including making our parents angry.

 

Why were you happy?

We were happy because for most of our year we are at school which is a boarding school and we only get to see our families once in three months so when we are together we enjoy each other’s company and never fight.

What do you need to be happy?

For us to be happy we need junk food especially chocolate as it generates the happiness hormone that regulates our mood.

What is the difference of needing and wanting?

The difference between the two is that a need is important and you can’t live or do without and a want is something that you don’t need and you can do without and your life will not collapse or you will not pass on.

We need food to eat and to stay alive which means a need we cannot live without. We want apple products but we know for sure that we can live without them.

What is the basic need for you?

A basic need for us is water.

Why is this basic need?

This is a basic need because we will always be hydrated and we can last longer with water than with food as it makes us full in a way.

Which rights do you think are fair and just for every child?

The rights we think are fair and are just for every child are to be protected from neglect and abuse as well as the right to education.

Would learning to be upset help?

One of our group members think that being upset is a waste of time since you could be doing something productive in that time. This statement was debated by saying that being upset helps a lot as it will prevent harmful actions such as assaults and bullying as when most people are upset the tend to distance themselves away from other people. We also think that being upset helps because you get to know how it feels to be happy and sad or upset so that when another person is upset you understand how they are actually feeling.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

---

---

 

Contributions Challenge 1: 

 

What is your idea of a safe home?

Eve Mashamba 

My idea of a safe home is not a specific place but is any place where I feel comfortable. It is a place where I can be myself and not have to worry about whether I am going to be judged or not. It is where the love is, where there is trust and where we all care about each and know that we are all the same and no one is more important than the other.

 

Keren Banza

 

 

My idea of a save home starts with a cliché “Home is where your heart is”. When you have moved to as many different places as I have, you learn that a safe home is not a place or a physical building. To truly have a safe home all you have to do is feel safe, loved, happy, comfort and completely at peace with yourself and those around you.

 

Mpho Zwane

My ideal safe home is a home where I feel free to express myself, remembering to respect those that live with me. It's a place where I feel loved and am able to express the same love to others.It's a place where we share our views and opinions with each other without being judged.My ideal safe home is a place where i feel safe and know that the ones I love are safe as well.

 

Alutho Mdzoy

My ideal safe home is a home where every loves each other, it doesn’t have to have fences, a place where everyone can trust each other and be happy.  

 

Kaamila Sissing

My safe home is a place that I can be myself without the fear of being judged, a place where I can express my opinions freely. A place where I can be guided, given freedom but also having boundaries with the intention that I do not become ungrounded and misguided, not with the intention of pushing me down and limiting me. A place that I am loved and where I know I can trust everyone and everything because their only intention is in my best interest.

 

Latita Jolobe

My idea of a safe home is a place that I am not scared to be in. It is a place where I am welcomed by family. It is a place with love inside, outside and around it. It doesn’t matter whether it is a mansion or a one roomed house.

 

Molebogeng Nqwala

 A safe home to me is a place where I can be me and be accepted for who I am. It also a place where the brother, the uncle, the father and any other man that passes in the street is my elder and family, not someone who threatens my safety, my dignity, and my innocence. It is a place where love is unconditional and family is everything. A safe home is where being happy is not a struggle but a way of life. My safe home really depends on you, respect me, my future, my ideal home and build the life of a totally new generation.

 

Research and report.

A. My Movie3.mp4

 

Doing this interview was a great learning experience for everyone involved. You find yourself paying attention to little things like whether you should use a laptop, phone or camera to shoot the video and also whether the lighting is right or if maybe it would be better outside. We had a lot of technical difficulties and we had to start all over again because first the video editing device we used did not want to work and we did not backup the video but after all you learn from your mistakes. We did not let the setbacks get to use we picked ourselves up and tried again this time using what we learned from our mistakes to make a new video. 

 

B.

There is no place like home

By Sthembile Gayeni

Once upon a time, there was a young girl who would always argue with her single mother. She “hated” her and even wished bad things upon her own mother who raised her alone and made sure she was provided for. This little girl’s hatred grew stronger each day. Until one day she took a life changing decision: to run away from home. Luckily for her, she found shelter at her friend’s home. Nobody in this family dared to ask what happened back at home but instead decided to let her stay. As days went by she wasn’t regarded as being part of the family even though she felt like it was home. The family would go out to watch movies and leave her behind, she would get really scared at times and never felt safe at times like these, this was when she realised she was not home. She then went back to her mother and apologised for all that she had done and told her mother that she had realised something important which is “There is no place like home”.

 

 

 

 

Assignment 2 - A poem or rap.

 

My home is a rock- steadfast! What am I without it?

Vulnerable, empty, nothing.

My safe home is a place where all of the demons of this world cannot get to me,

It’s where I can find myself and feel loved,

My safe home is where I am protected and will never not be content,

It is where I can say what needs to be said without a bullet through my head

 

What will I be when it is taken away? Where will I go and to whom will I fly?

Who will make me feel secure? Where will my heart be?

Without the tranquillity and stability of the place where I lay my head

All I get is migraines from blood pumping through my head

Is it that which you wish to take away from me? My comfort? The root of my bravery?

And all for what? Your satisfaction?

 

No. I say no. we say no. you cannot do as you please. You cannot break me down with your laws and

Get your law abiding citizens to play along with what you make them think is right.

Right? Yes, it’s my right, and if I don’t stand up for them then no one will. Yet, if I don’t know what they are, I will merely be a prisoner.

But again I say no. we say no. we say no to the shackles of abuse, maltreatment and simply inflicting on us that which we do not deserve.

 

We let go of the pain. For we are the children. We are the rock for the future generations and we will not simply back down. Home is where the heart is, and I choose to follow my heart. Our hearts are with you.

 

 

Assignment 3 - Make a cartoon

 

 

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=msApRIUOHjI&rel=0 

 

 

Dagna is a girl from Germany that had to move away from her country because there was conflict and that had put her and her family in danger. She travelled around the world trying to find where her safe home is and she lived in many homes not finding comfort. Dagna finally found a home with people with people who adopted her and cared for her. Dagna finally found the love and care she has been looking for in a safe home.

 

PowToon Reflection

We choose to make a cartoon because we were looking for a challenge and we wanted to learn about something new. We used a website called PowToon which is where we made the cartoon video and we learnt as we were going as it was a bit of a challenge since we have never come across it. We enjoyed it though because we also got to learn about each other’s skills and ways another person work and go about doing something.  We enjoyed it overall because we loved learning a new skill and having to learn a new skill that will most probably help us in the future.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

---

 

Feedback from: (Colegiul Economic Buzau, Romania)

Hello,

We would like to say that we liked your contributions to Challenge 1. We read the definitions of a 'safe home' and noticed the idea that not being judged and being in a place and with people whom you can trust is important.

The poem is really nice and also the cartoon that you made.

Congratulations!

     Robert

All your opinions about a safe house are very interesting. A safe house is very important in a person's life. I like your opinions and I wish you success in achieving the following articles.    

     Andrew (2)

We had a great time watching have you did in Challenge 1 .We learnt something new by reading your article and I hope that we will talk soon .  Congratulations!

     Ioana

I like your page!  I was really happy when I saw that you wrote about the rights of children in your country. People should take care of it all around the world because it is very important. Also, I like a lot Eve’s Mashamba idea from Challenge 1 which is about a safe home. She is right and I totally agree with her.

     Costin

     Hi! I`d like to congratulate you for the work you did. I liked to read your point of views about the safe house, you all had different ideas and all of them were really good. The poem was really deep and it has a lovely message but your video was the most appreciated by me.

---

 

Feedback from: (add name of the group or class that gives feedback)

 

 

---

  We are having a Skype meeting with .............. group:
                                                        on .............. date 

                                                         at .............. pm/am

 

---

---

 

Contributions Challenge 2:

Reflective Questions

 

Article 28

“Every child has the right to education. This means going to school to learn together”

Going to school is a right and an obligation. Why do you think this is?

Every child needs to have a right to an education to at least give them a better chance at life.

How important is it to you for every child to be able to go to school?

It is very important to us because we believe that every child is born with a purpose in life and denying them an education is denying them their right to fulfil that purpose, because we feel as if though their best shot at reaching their purpose is with an education.

What can you learn better in a school than outside of it?

You learn how to interact more with people because usually you are put in a room with people you don’t know and asked to interact with them. Therefore learning the life skill of how to treat people properly and with respect. You also learn academic skills such as writing essays, interpreting advertisements and many other skills that can help you in life.

What can you learn better when you’re not in school?

You learn how to trust your gut feeling. You also learn how to “hustle” make things happen for yourself. You also learn that the people around you are more important than material things.

 What do you learn as a child from working and having a job?

You learn many hard life lessons such as you need to work hard for what you want. Besides that all you learn is how to do that specific job

 From who do you learn the most? Your friends, your family, or your teachers?

You learn more life lessons from your family and you learn more of the technical stuff like essays and math from your teachers.

What can be reasons for so many children not going to school?

There are many reasons, such as poverty, communities that don’t allow it, people that interpret religions wrongly , incorrect mindsets , traditons etc..

By Molebogeng, Veronic , Eve and Kaamila

 

Article 31

 

1. Why is it important to be able to play?

It is important to be able to play because you need the stability. It can’t always be about schoolwork. Playing is a way of distressing and giving your mind time to calm down. Playing also stimulates your mind and helps you centre your focus.

2. What do you learn from playing?

You learn that you need time for yourself to calm down and to balance out your life.

3. If you don’t want to go to football practice, but still have to go, can you still call it spare time?

No, because during your spare time you do what you would enjoy doing, how you want to do it and when you want to do it. Spare time is not about doing things that you are forced to do.

4.Do you also learn things in your spare time? Give a few examples. 

Depending on what you are doing it is possible to learn a lot if new skills or develop the skills you already have. Such as reading, reading can improve your vocabulary. Doing homework during your spare time could also improve your skills.

5. Who should make sure that you have enough spare time?

Yourself because it is up to you to make sure that you manage your time wisely and according to your own schedule so that you can make sure that you can have your spare time. 

 

 

Article 32

Do you think you should be able to choose yourself between going to school and working?

     We think that you should be able to choose for yourself because at different times children might be dedicated to their school work so that they are able to      choose what they want to do with their life when they are older and they are not able to since they need to go work for family matters.

Does every child have to help his/her parents? With chores? With earning money?

Children should help his/her parents with chores and they should be mandatory as this teaches the children skills but earning money for the house should be optional.

 When is it good to let children have a job and earn money?

It is better to let children work after they have finished school and when they are fully developed. It is also better for children to work when they are at the right age as there are different ages in different countries.

Does a school have to protect you against working too hard?

A school should protect you from working hard if it is interfering with your school work and if you are working and the school finds out but your grades don’t drop and they are at a very good level they should let you work.

Should you earn money when you work hard at school?

We think that you should not earn money for working hard at school because we believe that you should not be rewarded for building a future but instead reward yourself with working hard to go to College.

Are you required to work as a child when your parents don’t make enough money?

You are not required to work if your parents don’t make enough money as children are entitled to be stress free.

What can we do in our country to stop child labour in different countries?

We can visit a shop monthly unannounced and then check in the shops if there are any children that are working. We can also ask the neighbours who go there to buy to check if there are any kids when they are going to purchase things. 

 

 

 

A letter to Urmila

Dear Urmila

We have just read the article about you and watched the videos. We are really amazed by the work that you have done for the other girls that need such help as they might feel as though it’s the end of the world .We would like you to know that you are truly a great inspiration to us, and since we believe in giving back to communities, you have inspired us to be great leaders in the world.

From all the hard work that we have heard that you’ve done, we have a few questions that we would like to ask you:

1.  
2. What else would you like to change in the world to make it a better place to live?
3. Did you ever hate your parents because they gave you away to other people?
4. If you were given a chance to live again, what would you have chosen as a career?
5. If you were given the opportunity to help all the children of Africa that are experiencing the same things that you did when you were young, would you help them or would you just carry on doing it for your country?
6. What is your definition of changing somebody’s life?

You have been through so much, and it shows us that no matter how difficult life may get, we should carry on because good things are yet to come. You have also inspired us to help girls that experience this. In order to do this; we have decided to join Girl Up to make a difference in the world.

 

Yours sincerely

Sthembile, Alutho and Nkosiphile

 

 

Dear Urmila

 

We have been truly inspired by your story. We feel that you were very brave because you were able to overcome all the trials you went through. If we were in your position we do not think we would have been able to cope. It was also very nice of you to forgive your parents for giving you away at such a young age. We admire how you have dedicated yourself to helping other girls that are still in that position even in this day and age.

We would like to know how it felt to be kamalari and suffer the way that you did. Also, at times there comes a point where you feel that all that you are doing is not worth it and you feel like giving up. What made you carry on and not give up on life? Did you feel happy while you were there? Do you feel that happiness can be taken away from if you allow it? If you did not feel happy then do you think that your childhood was completely taken away from you because when you are a young child you normally feel happy most of the time and happiness can be hard to find after going through such trauma. Although you master had turned you into a slave, were there ever any good moments, moments that you were treated as a normal child?

We hope that you will be able to reply to us and we would just like to encourage you to continue the great work that you have been doing. We hope that one day you could be able to come to South Africa and inspire all the girls that are facing many challenges in life.

 

Yours sincerely,

Keren Banza

Tebogo Tsele

Latita Jolobe 

 

 

No education in refugee camps?

TPA1.docx

 

 

 

 

---

 

Feedback from: (Colegiul Economic Buzau, Romania)

Teo

I want to say that I really like the way you see things, it's very similar with my point of view . And I also learned something from what you have written, if you deny education you could also deny your purpose in life.

Eddy

It is very nice what you have done so far, and I also think that poverty is a big problem, and that's why a lot of kids don't go to school .

Cristina    

 This is really nice, and I totally agree with that. Everyone should benefit of a safe place to live. We learnt new things from you, and the poem you wrote was absolutely fantastic.

 

 

---

 

Feedback from: (add name of the group or class that gives feedback)

 

 

---

We are having a Skype meeting with .............. group: 
                                                      on .............. date 

                                                       at .............. pm/am

 

---

---

 

Completion:

 

 

---

---

Evaluation:

Being in the wiki circle has not been only a chance for me to learn a new skill but it has also been a chance for me to interact with my peers and get to know them a bit better. I was able to see what other people from other countries thought and we were given this platform to express ourselves and share our views and opinions on issues that the world we live in is facing. It was a really fun journey knowing that on a certain day and time of the week, I  am going to a meeting that was not going to be about me but about other people around me that  are not noticed and are taken for granted because they are judged to quickly. It was within this journey that I was able to differentiate between a safe home and a protected home. One of the things I have done was to create a newspaper article and it was the most exciting because I was doing it for all the right reasons and it felt really good knowing that I was playing my part into trying to make the world  a better place for all who live in it. This opportunity was not only granted to me but it guided me and strengthened my focus on all that I wanted to accomplish and so I did. I really hope that other young people are also granted this opportunity that I have been granted, so that a lot more people are involved. The wiki has left a mark in my heart for all the right reasons and it is only that after the wiki I also share the skills and knowledge that has been shared with me. I aim to also leave my mark in other people’s lives because the feeling that I am feeling is one that should be felt by everyone.

 

Eve Mashamba

 

This has been an online adventure for me. I’ve learnt more than I thought I ever would. I did not anticipate expanding my understanding of the views of other people and increasing my skills in this way at all. The Learning Circle is perfect the way it is and I think the only thing it could improve is the way their page looks. The colours are appealing but I think that if animations were added then it would be even better.

 

Lathitha

 

My experience with the wiki was one amazing and unexplainable experience. I never thought learning about myself and people I thought I knew a lot about would be such an amazing experience. During this process I learned that you don't have to be the smartest person alive, but by simply being open minded and willing to learn one could do so much in such little time. I saw different styles of learning and thinking when for a moment I thought we all thought the same thing just in different colour and different ways. Throughout this process I learned that creating a safe and special home for each child should begin with a dream and a will to make that very dream come true. I learned that to be a leader you need to have a vision and a set mission as to how you will achieve it. I learned that I can be an individual inside a collective and still have my voice heard and recognised by simply working and collaborating with others.I learned the different people, from different continents and different countries do things and think differently. They approach situations differently and they certainly live differently. Sometimes I tried incorporating their ways of lives into my own and figured I should just keep things the way they are and other times I loved the outcome and I repeated it daily. Thank you for the trip to a whole different world with an app, this is one trip I would repeat any other day.

Molebogeng

 

This has been a very fun experience for me and I have learned a lot about children’s rights and how important it is for every child to be exposed to their rights. I have also learned to work and upload different things onto the wiki, which was a new skill for me. It was also my first time working with Powtoons in one of our assignments.

This wiki is really fun to be on and interact with different people from different places and also see and understand their work and countries’ rules or standards. This wiki helps a lot of students, not only with their English, but also to know what is going on in the world we live in. I think that creating this wiki platform where people can express their emotions on certain topics was a really good idea and it helps a lot.

Again, I really learned a lot and I am thinking about doing it next year again.         

Veronic Van der Westhuizen

 

Working together in a global classroom has really opened my mind to a new way of viewing the world and global issues like Children Rights. In the process I have also learned how I can use technology, in the process learning how to do something new, to view or voice out my ideas, thoughts and plans on how to better improve or help the topics we covered in the global classroom. I have not only picked up new computer skills that I was never able to do but also my teamwork and time management skills have been bettered from this experience.

Keren Banza

 

Nkosiphile Mavundla

From the all the experiences that I have had, I have learnt a lot about children’s rights. I’ve learnt that even though the law says that children must be given all their rights, we should not be quick to believe that every child is actually living up on their rights because most of them are not able to have those rights, which is wrong. I also discovered new things, especially about the lifestyle of Nepalese children, those children are used to work in other people’s homes in order for them to be able to go to school and to have their needs fulfilled. It’s also good to know that I can actually make a difference in this world by preventing this from happening to more people or stop it from happening to other children.