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From 10 August to 9 October 2015, Svenja Lais supported steps for children in Gobabis, in particular the preschool of the partner project Light for the Children. In her own words, she had a „very enriching and rewarding time“. Below, Svenja reports on a few of her experiences at steps: 
„The first three weeks of my stay were still school holidays. During this time, I organised the holiday programme together with one other volunteer, later there were four of us, and Santiago, a teacher. We organised various games and craft activities and made many children's eyes light up. You could feel the children's joy when they proudly held their finished products in their hands and presented them to us. It was indescribable to see and feel such gratitude and joy from the children. 

School started again on 1 September. The first week after the holidays was all about settling in at the preschool and getting to know the teachers, getting an idea of the procedures and observing the individual classes. We, a total of four volunteers, got together beforehand and considered how we could best and most effectively support the teachers. In consultation with the teachers, we finally decided to give the children special support in small groups. We developed a kind of timetable for ourselves so that there were always two of us in a group of usually five children. After each lesson, the groups changed and so did the age group. In this way, the children of all grades received separate and targeted support outside of the classroom. The children in the individual groups changed on a weekly basis.

After the individual groups, we helped serve food in the kitchen. We filled the plates and then handed them out to the children. Then it was lunch time for us too, before we continued with the afternoon class at 1pm. Lisa, another volunteer, and I looked after the third-graders together. There were usually between 16 and 20 pupils present. They practised English or maths for an hour with moderate commitment. Afterwards, we collected the plates they had brought with them and filled them up with lunch in the kitchen. After all the children had had their meal, the rest of the food was distributed, the kitchen was cleaned and at around 2.30pm we made our way home.

  

 

 

 

 

 

 

At the request of the teachers, Barbara, another volunteer, and I initiated a ‚teacher workshop‘. This took place every second Thursday after the afternoon class for about an hour and a half. The contents of the workshop included ‚Visual perception in children and how to promote it‘ (development and presentation of various worksheets), ‚Games for kids‘ (e.g. cooperation or concentration games) and ‚Self-made teaching materials‘ (e.g. puzzles, sound memory or magnetic fishing rod). It was important to us that the teachers were actively involved in the workshops and tried out the materials and games themselves. Learning from each other was very important to us and was always the focus. The ‚teacher workshop‘ is now being continued by Barbara together with Gerald, the director of the preschool.

In addition to working in the preschool, I was also able to accompany Mr Bartman to the steps homes several times. We visited the families who have taken in two to four orphans in addition to their own children and are financially supported by steps for children. The families live in the residential area behind the school, which consists entirely of corrugated iron huts. When you see how sparsely and in what a small space these families live, you really realise how good we have it in Germany and what a luxury we actually live in here...

Thank you very much for giving me the opportunity to familiarise myself with the project on site and to get actively involved there. It was a wonderful time and perhaps one day I will return to Gobabis to visit the children and teachers...“

steps says thank you very much for your dedicated work, Svenja!

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Svenja Lais has from 10:08. to 10.09.2015 steps for children supported in Gobabis, in particular, the school for the partner project Light for the Children. She has „spent very enriching and rewarding period“ means in his own words. Following Svenja reports a few experiences in steps: 
„The first three weeks of my stay were still school holidays. In that time I have designed together with first another volunteer, later we were to fourth, and Santiago, a teacher the holiday programme. We have offered different games and craft activities and thereby brought many children's eyes light up. One could rejoice with the children when they proudly held their finished products in their hands and presented us. It was indescribable, 

On September 1, the school started again. The first week after the holidays, it was necessary first of all to arrive at the pre-school and the teachers meet you, to get a picture of the processes and to sit in on the individual classes. We, four volunteers, assembled us in advance and considered how we can support the teacher on the best and most effective. In consultation with the teachers we finally decided in small groups to encourage the children especially. We developed for us a kind of timetable, so we always had a second set of generally five children. After each lesson, the groups and thus also the age group alternated. In this way, the children of all grades received a separate and targeted funding outside the class action.

According to the individual groups, we helped in the kitchen at the food counter. We filled the plates and shared this after the children. After that was then for us lunch before the, afternoon class‘ went on to 13h. Lisa, another volunteer, and I managed together the third graders. Usually 16 to 20 students were present. So they practised then an hour English or maths with moderate commitment. Then we collected a which brought plates and loaded it on in the kitchen with the lunch. After all children had received their meal, the remaining food was still distributed, made the kitchen clean and to 14.30 we were on our way home.

  

 

 

 

 

 

 

At the request of teachers Barbara, another volunteer, and I initiated a, teacher workshop ‚. This took place every second Thursday after, afternoon class‘ for about one and a half hours instead. Content of the workshops focused on, Visual perception in children and how to promote this‘ (preparation and presentation of different worksheets), Games for Kids‘ (eg cooperation or concentration games) and educational material itself is made ‚(eg puzzle, noise memory or Magnet Angel). It was our wish that the teachers were actively involved in the workshops and tried out the work material or the games themselves. The mutual learning from each other was very important to us and was always in focus. The, teacher workshop ‚will be of Barbara together with Gerald, the director of the preschool,

Besides working in preschool I was allowed to accompany the steps homes a few times Mr Bartman. We visited the families who have also taken two to four orphans to their own children and provide financial support to steps for children. The families live in the residential neighbourhood behind the school, which consists exclusively of tin huts. When one sees how sparse and on which small space these families live, is a once really realise how good we have it in Germany and in what kind of a luxury we actually live here ...

Thanks I got the opportunity to gather insights the project site and to engage me there actively. It was a wonderful time and maybe my trip one day go back to Gobabis to the children and teachers ... „

                                                                                  steps says thank you for your dedicated work, Svenja!

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