Five trained Facilitators bring literacy skills to 174 formerly illiterate farm workers on strategically placed farm venues and 123 people in the Underberg and Himeville Low Income Townships, after working hours, on a Program that started in 2002 at the request of the local Dairy Farmers Study Group. It is a development of the very successful Family Literacy Project now geared specifically for the agricultural sector.
The demand for Literacy Education in Himeville has been so great that, within two months of starting the Project in the Jabulani Community Hall, it has grown too large for one Facilitator to handle, with an attendance of over fifty learners and more coming each week.
There is no charge to the Learners for any aspect of the Project and all materials and tuition are supplied fee of charge.
FARM FAMILY LITERACY is directed at adults who have not had the opportunity of learning to read and write. But the Project goes far beyond teaching functional literacy, to cover issues related to their own lives. Learners discuss concerns of health, managing money, raising children, clean water, citizenship and rights and responsibilities.. They discuss matters related to their community or their households, draw up tables of problems and steps to address them. Basic computer skills instruction is also offered.
Other matters for intervention are Child Support and Disability Grants, Old Age Pensions — their value, who is entitled to them and assistance in applying for them.
Each “school” has its own “library in a box” with one member in charge acting as a librarian, with a variety of basic books available in isiZulu. Parents are encouraged to read to their own and other children.
Learners who have acquired literacy skills are encouraged to visit homes close to their own to read and show pictures to children of less literate parents. “Bayi Nzimande,” his facilitator reports, ”takes books to his compound where he gathers children to read to them until the noise and laughter brings his son Mndeni to see what is going on.”
Employers report that their workers attending literacy classes are better able to understand and follow instructions and show greater initiative—in fact, are often participating in decision making at a functional level.
uMzali Nengane—parents are encouraged to keep a journal with their children, recording their aspirations, events and interests.
Groups produce their own newspaper and everyone is encouraged to contribute. There are also pen-friend arrangements among learners.
The Project is to be evaluated by UKZN in 2007/8

One of the features of the FARM FAMILY LITERACY PROJECT is the high number of male learners who attend the classes. In fact, on the Farm Sites they considerably outnumber the women.

“Hlabeyakhe was semi-literate when he joined a class of learners who were mostly ahead of him. He attends two 2-hour sessions a week and has never missed a class. He always encourages his fellow learners. He has a keen mind … he constantly questions and, if he does not understand, he continues until he does. In the ABET Examinations in 2005 he achieved 80%.” - Facilitator’s Report

FFLP reaches 297 adult learners at 11 sites. All Facilitators have at least an NQF qualification and one, Nompumulelo Nyathi, is studying part time for a University Degree. All Facilitators attend an intensive Training Week every year.

Funding for most of the Farm Sites comes from members of the Underberg Dairy Study Group. Other funders are the Underberg Congregational Church and the Sacred Heart Rural Development Project.

VUKUZAKHE PROJECTS
P.O.Box 166 • Himeville 3256 • KwaZulu-NatalSouth Africa
Tel 033 702 1032 • From foreign countries: +27 33 702 1032
Cell Pierre Horn: 083 709 8900
Email: pierre@vukuzakhe.co.za
richard@vukuzakhe.co.za