students' stories

It is all about development of the whole person, not just about the computer.

  

A highlight in my teaching has been the growth I have seen in the students I have taught who would not have had the opportunity to learn if someone had not intervened...

It all started with Honey. I was phoned by a computer company in town and asked if I would teach computer to the lady who was cleaning the office for them. Had I not decided to travel into Cape Town once a week to teach Honey, much of my life you read about in http://heart-2heart.blogspot.com/ would not have happened! It changed my life! It also changed hers. She is now working in the same company managing office orders and supplies.  

 

I was then approached by an amazing person in his late 80’s who wanted me to do computer training for students from Ocean View who had just left school and needed skills as a foundation for their futures. This is now the 4th year that he has sponsored these students who have, in turn, become my extended family, as they attend classes in my home. He also sponsored 6 computers and a projector without which I could not have taught the students effectively.      

       

                    

From there it spread to Masiphumele.  I often drive along the road and pick up char ladies in the boiling hot sun or pouring rain, who have missed the bus. I always ask them what they would really like to do work wise. Most of them have not thought further than the job they are doing. The greatest reward for me is to see these ladies develop in confidence as they learn computer skill. Some of these people are my best typists.

I have grown to love these people - they have become my friends, my family - they come from all walks of life: security guards, painters, young students, ladies with families..each has a story to tell. Valentia wanted to start a pre-school: She is now up and running (February 08)

 

 
 Let me tell you about Neliswa, a lady  I met in Masi when her home burned down last year. She was devastated - she had nothing. Now she is part of one of my classes. I asked her what one good thing came out of the fire. She said “Nothing”. I asked her to think about the fact that, had I not come into the fire area to see what I could do, I would not have met her and she would not have been on this computer course – she saw the good that came out of the fire for the first time. What a wonderful revelation
 


 
 Eunica is a lady I picked up walking along the side of the road with her 3 year old little boy last year. She was so depressed that day. She had no job. I asked her if she would be interested in learning computer and took her down her phone number. When I phoned her 3 months later to do the course, she said she could not believe I had phoned – she thought she would never hear from me again. She is now learning how to teach the others what she has learned in the course; and has just started a job. Her heart is to start her own hair salon.

 

 

 

I had such a good laugh early one Saturday morning when two heads appeared coming up the stairs to my house: And on top of Valentia and Primrose's heads were balanced a monitor and a tower for a computer! We have many laughs together as we have got to know each other - memories I would not exchange for anything in the world!

In order for the people to practice, they need computers. I have started setting up mini-computer centres in the homes of the people in Masi. Computers people have donated are given to my students. There are two conditions. One: that they show me that they are serious about learning and coming to class. The second condition is that their home is open to others coming to learn. I teach them and they, in turn, must teach someone else.

So many jobs are computerised. Skills are taught not only to the people who come to me, but in turn to the children of these people and to others who come to their homes. Small businesses can be started by typing out quotes, CV's, letters.

I find people who are natural teachers and teach them how to teach so that they in turn can start their own businesses - if they can have a computer to use

 How you can help?

 

I need computers that work – they may be old, but they need to work. Do you have any or do you know of people who are upgrading? Please ask them to contact me so that together we can make a difference in the lives of the people out there.If you would like to sponsor someone to come to a course, or would like sponsor someone you know to come, please contact me:

Cell: +27 82 572 2517

Email me: jan@capecomputertraining.com

Hope for the future...

The teachers I am training will train these people. Detailed notes will help them recall what is being taught. And they will have computers on which to practise.