US First Lady Michelle Obama spoke  to 50 high school learners from five local schools — including LEAP Science and Maths School in Cape Town — at a meeting at the  University of Cape Town on June 23, 2011.  After her speech she was introduced to the learners.  Former vice-chancellor of UCT and major supporter of the LEAP Schools Dr Mamphela Ramphele moderated the question and answer session.

The University shared the following press release about the event:

Michelle Obama inspires young audience at UCT
23 June 2011

Self belief: US First Lady Michelle Obama (right) speaks to learners in Fuller Hall at UCT. On her left are vice-chancellor Dr Max Price and former VC Dr Mamphela Ramphele.

For 45 minutes or so, they listened attentively; nervously but diligently posed their questions when prompted; chuckled when she cracked a joke, and were the picture of self-restraint, as could be expected in the company of America’s First Lady, Michelle Obama, and surrounded by cameras, microphones and security personnel.

The moment the formalities were over, the fetters came off. The 50 high-school learners who’d been invited to UCT to meet with Obama, shook off their reserve and swarmed her, delighted.

Obama responded in kind, and not one of the youngsters left the meeting at Fuller Hall without a generous hug.

“It was very inspiring to meet someone successful who has gone through the struggles that we have gone through, and knowing that we can also be as successful as someone like her,” Salama Bavugamenshi, a 17-year old from Oude Molen Academy of Science & Technology, enthused.

As vice-chancellor Dr Max Price pointed out to the learners in his welcome, and which Obama echoed, the day was all about them.

“The essence of Mrs Obama’s message reinforces a core part of UCT’s mandate,” said Price; “to provide opportunities to learners with talent and motivation to gain access to a world-class higher education regardless of social class and in spite of poorer schooling.”

And that’s exactly the inspirational message the First Lady chose to share with the learners, all hailing from five local schools: the Cape Academy of Mathematics, Science and Technology in Constantia; the LEAP Science and Maths School in Pinelands; Oude Molen; Sophumelela in Mitchell’s Plain; and Spine Road High School, also in Mitchell’s Plain.

Obama urged them to recognise and embrace their own promise. She encouraged them to believe in themselves and what they can achieve.

“Getting into a school like this isn’t some kind of magical process,” she said.

She recounted her own life story, and some of her husband’s (he had “goofed off” a bit at school, she revealed to laughter from her young audience). She observed that success isn’t where one comes from or how much money one has. She encouraged the girls to find their voice and speak out, even when not absolutely sure of themselves (just like boys would do). She also held up the example of former UCT vice-chancellor and guest, Dr Mamphela Ramphele, who also overcame many obstacles. She advised them to seek out those who would add value to their lives

“Barack made me better, and hopefully he would say I made him better too.” Pause. Smile. “Let’s just say that,” she added.

And she also advocated the virtues of hard work and visualisation.

“See it,” she said.

“I can see the same promise in all of you as I do in my own girls,” Obama told the learners. “When I see you, I see them; when I see them, I see you.”

“What I will take with me is that saying that she had to ‘practise greatness’,” recalled Merick Swartz of Spine Road afterwards. “I think that practising greatness in our everyday lives could eventually lead to us doing great things one day.”

Download the podcast of the event.

Read more information about Michelle Obama’s visit.

Michelle Obama’s visit to UCT inspires young learners

US First Lady Michelle Obama spoke  to 50 high school learners from five local schools — including LEAP Science and Maths School in Cape Town — at a meeting at the  University of Cape Town on June 23, 2011.  After her speech she was introduced to the learners.  Former vice-chancellor of UCT and major supporter of the LEAP Schools Dr Mamphela Ramphele moderated the question and answer session.

The University shared the following press release about the event:

Michelle Obama inspires young audience at UCT
23 June 2011

Self belief: US First Lady Michelle Obama (right) speaks to learners in Fuller Hall at UCT. On her left are vice-chancellor Dr Max Price and former VC Dr Mamphela Ramphele.

For 45 minutes or so, they listened attentively; nervously but diligently posed their questions when prompted; chuckled when she cracked a joke, and were the picture of self-restraint, as could be expected in the company of America’s First Lady, Michelle Obama, and surrounded by cameras, microphones and security personnel.

The moment the formalities were over, the fetters came off. The 50 high-school learners who’d been invited to UCT to meet with Obama, shook off their reserve and swarmed her, delighted.

Obama responded in kind, and not one of the youngsters left the meeting at Fuller Hall without a generous hug.

“It was very inspiring to meet someone successful who has gone through the struggles that we have gone through, and knowing that we can also be as successful as someone like her,” Salama Bavugamenshi, a 17-year old from Oude Molen Academy of Science & Technology, enthused.

As vice-chancellor Dr Max Price pointed out to the learners in his welcome, and which Obama echoed, the day was all about them.

“The essence of Mrs Obama’s message reinforces a core part of UCT’s mandate,” said Price; “to provide opportunities to learners with talent and motivation to gain access to a world-class higher education regardless of social class and in spite of poorer schooling.”

And that’s exactly the inspirational message the First Lady chose to share with the learners, all hailing from five local schools: the Cape Academy of Mathematics, Science and Technology in Constantia; the LEAP Science and Maths School in Pinelands; Oude Molen; Sophumelela in Mitchell’s Plain; and Spine Road High School, also in Mitchell’s Plain.

Obama urged them to recognise and embrace their own promise. She encouraged them to believe in themselves and what they can achieve.

“Getting into a school like this isn’t some kind of magical process,” she said.

She recounted her own life story, and some of her husband’s (he had “goofed off” a bit at school, she revealed to laughter from her young audience). She observed that success isn’t where one comes from or how much money one has. She encouraged the girls to find their voice and speak out, even when not absolutely sure of themselves (just like boys would do). She also held up the example of former UCT vice-chancellor and guest, Dr Mamphela Ramphele, who also overcame many obstacles. She advised them to seek out those who would add value to their lives

“Barack made me better, and hopefully he would say I made him better too.” Pause. Smile. “Let’s just say that,” she added.

And she also advocated the virtues of hard work and visualisation.

“See it,” she said.

“I can see the same promise in all of you as I do in my own girls,” Obama told the learners. “When I see you, I see them; when I see them, I see you.”

“What I will take with me is that saying that she had to ‘practise greatness’,” recalled Merick Swartz of Spine Road afterwards. “I think that practising greatness in our everyday lives could eventually lead to us doing great things one day.”

Download the podcast of the event.

Read more information about Michelle Obama’s visit.

Teach With Africa feature from Responsible Traveller Magazine

Teach With Africa & Singita Partner to Improve Education

Teach With Africa’s team of 12 full-time Fellows and 4 part-time Faculty-in-Residence have arrived Cape Town and Johannesburg, and Eastern Cape.

Also, in conjunction with Singita game preserve, Teach With Africa  has placed 3 teacher trainers in a rural preschool teacher training pilot program in the Sabi Sand. The June 1 publication of Responsible Traveller included a feature about the new program:

“Teach With Africa has partnered with Singita Sabi Sand and other lodges within the wider Sabi Sand Reserve, as well as with the READ Educational Trust, to focus on capacity building within pre-schools in the communities bordering the Reserve. The pilot program will focus on capacity building in the area of Early Childhood Development by placing three ECD specialists at rural pre-schools and by using Teach With Africa’s ‘teach the teachers’ model.

The program is designed to move pre-school education in the Sabi Sand area to the next level. At present, many caregivers are non-matriculated volunteers but are enthusiastic and eager to learn. Ten of these schools have already received foundation training from READ in a program funded and organized by Singita and the Department of Education. Experienced Teach With Africa ECD specialists in partnership with READ and local educators, are developing the intensive training program with the aim of both consolidating skills amongst the caregivers and equipping them to share their knowledge with peers from other schools. In its first year, the program will focus on providing support for two pre-schools in Justicia, both of which have been part of the READ-run program, with eventual expansion to other local schools.

“We all know that quality education begins in early childhood, and getting the opportunity to augment the pre-school teacher training efforts already underway will allow Teach With Africa to expand its reach to the youngest children in South Africa and have an early impact on the next generation,” said Amy Scheow Executive Director or Teach With Africa. “Partnering locally is one of our top pogram criteria, and partnering with Singita —  a world-class safari company committed to sustainable community development — is part of Teach With Africa’s commitment to excellence.”

Learn more about Singita here.

Learn more about READ here.

The 2011 Teach With Africa team departs for South Africa this weekend!

As the 2011 Teaching Team departs for South Africa this weekend, we are asking for your help with a great send-off!

We are looking for 10  donors to donate $100 each (or feel free to donate anyamount toward one!) to purchase 10 robots for Faculty-in-Residence EugeneLemon’s computer science workshops this summer at the LEAP Schools.

You can check out the robots here.

These robots can be programmed using Java or Python programming languages,which fits into LEAP’s Java programming curriculum. The developers also planto have Scratch (programming language designed to teach programming toprimary and middle school students) added to the programming languagessometime this summer, which our teachers can then use in the LEAP Schools’primary and middle school partners. There will be approx. 3 to 4 studentsper robot in each LEAP Computer Science class.

The programming robots would be a motivating addition to the LEAP Schools’computer science curriculum, and we are really excited to be bringing themto LEAP this year!

To donate, go to our site’s donate page — and donate via PayPal, designate your donation for “robots” and/or send an emailto info@teachwithafrica.org to let us know you have donated and want itto go toward the robot project.

Many thanks for your support!

TWA Student Teachers Learn to Skateboard from a Local Pro

Last January student teacher interns from South Africa received a skateboarding lesson (and made their own skateboards) from professional skateboarder Elissa Steamer.

This video was produced by Aaron Chilen, who has been filming and editing skateboarding videos for about 15 years.  He’s originally from Kansas City (go Chiefs!) but has been living in the bay area for the last 5 years doing videography for Deluxe Distribution.  He heard about TWA through Elissa Steamer when she approached him about filming this video.  She skates for Thunder Trucks and Spitfire Wheels, both of which were provided for the skateboards and are distributed by Deluxe.

Meet the 2011 Fellows and Faculty

Teach With Africa has been working hard to put together a team for our fourth program year in South Africa, and we are excited to announce that we have placed 12 full-time Fellows and 4 part-time Faculty-in-Residence for the June 17-August 12 program in Cape Town and Johannesburg, South Africa. Additionally, we are sending a Fellow to a pilot program in the Eastern Cape to assess a rural primary school site and to provide classroom resources and teacher training. In a few weeks time, we will also be announcing a rural preschool teacher training pilot program in the Sabi Sand area in conjunction with Singita game preserve where we will place 3 teacher trainers this summer.

Again this year we are sending experienced classroom teachers who will be involved with direct instruction of students as well as with professional teacher development, and all of the team will serve as tutors to nearly 500 LEAP students, adding valuable, severely needed resources and support to the teaching infrastructure at all of the LEAP Schools, including the new fourth site in Johannesburg.

Our team of fellows hails from around the U.S. again this year — the SF Bay Area, San Diego, Chicago, Philadelphia, Washington, D.C. and New York! Our 2011 Team Orientation will be held in San Francisco on May 13-15, and we are all excited to begin this journey together.

Click on an individual’s name to check out their bio:

2011 Fellowships: Deanna Alexich, Diana Cornejo-Sanchez, Joshua Elder, Kay Flewelling, Ralph T. Hammond, Marisa Harris, Kristin Komatsubara, Mallory LaPeruto, Paul Richardson, Jonah Weaver, Michael Vasquez, Kimberly Worthy

2011 Faculty-in-Residence: Julian Islas, Eugene Lemon, Karen Page, Jennifer Woodall