Sedibeng FET Student Projects

Two months left and the ETAs in Vtown (Kelly, Cory, and Amanda and I) are working on 4 main projects at the Sedibeng FET College (which has four different campuses) here in South Africa! The college serves just under 10,000 students, most of whom are between the ages of 17-25 years old.

1. SediSnap Photojournalism Project: 

We have 33 photographers and writers for the SediSnap project.

16 disposable cameras were donated from friends and family members of the ETAs (THANKS EVERYONE!). 4 cameras were distributed to each campus. Students competed for a photographer spot. Those students walked with the ETAs and took pictures that represented their communities. The pictures were developed by the ETAs and students wrote their first drafts of poetry based on the photos. The students, who were not chosen to be a photographer, were still able to participate in the writing portion of the project.

Week 1: Photo Composition Workshop and Competition

Week 2: Selected students went with Cory and Kelly to take photos of their communities. Photos were developed.

Week 3: Poetry workshop and all students wrote their first drafts.

Week 4: Final Editing Workshop. Student will write their final drafts.

Once all materials have been submitted, the ETAs will format the book and submit it to a publisher. Projected published date is mid-September 2014. The ETAs hope to take the 33 students to the Jozi book fair at the end of September to sell the book www.jozibookfair.org.za/. Funds will be used towards the library club and future student run projects.  3 books have already been pre-ordered. Please email us @ sedibengETA@gmail.com if you are interested in pre-ordering a copy! 

2. SedCol News

Here is a screen shot of Issue number 1 of the Sedibeng College Newspaper. Completely run by and for students (email us if you would like the pdf copy). This issue was put together by the Vanderbijl campus staff. Sedibeng College donated 4,000 sheets of paper for printing. Library club students at each campus distributed the copies. 

Issue number 2 of the SedCol News will be ready to publish this week with articles and photographs written and taken by staff members from Sebokeng and Vanderbijlpark campuses.

Unfortunately, Sedibeng College's budget will not allow us to print again and we are going to have a digital copy and a few large copies to put around campuses to decrease costs. 

8 students turned in applications for the Heidelberg Newspaper Staff. 4 were called for interviews. 3 were interviewed on August 19^th, 2014. School was closed that day, however, the ETAs and the selected students showed up to participate in the interview process. An editor, photographer and staff writer were selected for the staff.

3. Library Club: Leadership Society

Before the break, Library Club was broken up into two groups: Leadership Society and Literary Society. The former focused on goal setting, cv writing, and interview skills workshops. The latter focused on short story, poetry and drama workshops. After the break, Literary Society is working on the SediSnap photojournalism project and Leadership Society is working on conflict resolution, public speaking and debating skills. 

 Students had to write about how their lives would change if they woke up with a new identity such as: American, Afrikaans, Christian, Muslim, 75 years old, Deaf, Zulu, Courled, etc. 

Using a combination of lessons adapted from resources from the United States Institute of Peace (USIP): Peacebuilders Educators Toolkit and the ESL and Conflict Resolution Guide the following series of workshops will be offered to the students (please email us if you are interested in the scope and sequence or the individual lesson plans):

Week 1: Stereotypes- Walk in Another Person's Shoes

Week 2: Communication- Understanding Communication through Drawing

Week 3: What is conflict- Defining Conflict and Conflict Styles

Week 4: Identity Issues

Week 5: Create a New Society

Week 6: Understanding Different Perspectives

Week 7: Understanding Bias

Week 8: How to participate in a Formal Debate

Week 9: Debate 1

Week 10: Final Debate

Discussing active listening skills with learners at Heidelberg

4. Sedibeng Book Club

The US Embassy donated 44 copies of ‘The Absolutely True Diary of a Part-Time Indian.” 11 copies were distrusted to each campus. Some campuses have had such a huge interest that a second book club will commence after week 4. Students have been meeting with us at lunchtime to discuss the following topics: poverty, alcoholism, prejudice awareness, identity issues, and family/relationship dynamics. (Please email us if you would like a pdf copy of the book or a pdf copy of the study guide we are using.)

Week 1: Book distribution. Learners were given a bookmark with assigned readings and meeting times.

Week 2: Discuss chapters 1-10

Week 3: Discuss chapters 11-20

Week 4: Discuss the end of the book and complete a written reflection.

We are asking for donations to go towards our first two projects. A small contribution on your part will make a huge impact on the lives of our students! It would allow us to print more copies of the newspaper. It would allow us to publish and print the SediSnap Photojournalism Book, it would help us register and arrange transportation for our 33 students to attend the Jozi Book Fair. It would allow us to get shirts made for our students to help them advertise their project. All remaining funds will be put towards student run projects. Donate your starbucks latte today to help our students! :0)

Please click on the link below to donate! 

Ke a le boha (thank you)
-Ubuntu/Esty

"Education is the most powerful weapon which you can use to change the world." -Nelson Mandela

http://www.gofundme.com/7f5sgw?preview=1