Auburn House School Background

Auburn House was started in 1984 as a multi-cultural Montessori school for 3-6 year olds and in 1988 opened its own full-time primary class. The school now caters for 90 children in pre-school, junior and senior primary classes and will increase its capacity to include a middle school group in 2005.

Involvement with community outreach work and teacher training began in 1989 and the Auburn House Educational Trust was established to receive funds for school bursaries and training sponsorship. Over the past 15 years, training and professional development have played an important part in the activity of the school as a training centre. More than 240 Montessori preschool teachers have been trained to date, and practical courses for class assistants also run on a regular basis.

Montessori Education:

The Montessori approach is essentially practical, flexible and specifically suited to a child's environment and needs within its own community. The aim is to develop in each child a natural love of learning and the practical skills necessary for future competence in life. The approachbuilds confidence and self-respect, responsibility and care for others and the environment.Montessori schools flourish in countries all over the world - in rural and urban, disadvantaged and privileged communities. The Montessori training equips educators to establish learning environments which are useful and effective for large groups of children of mixed ages and abilities, and to monitor and guide the individual's development and learning within them.

 "The child is also capable of developing and giving us tangible proof of the possibility of a better humanity. We have seen children totally change as they acquire a love for things as their sense of order, discipline and self-control develops within them as a manifestation of their total freedom."

                                                                                                                                        Dr M. Montessori: Education and Peace

Kalahari Children's School

The Kalahari Children's School is being set up for the /Khomani Bushmen, in response to their desperate plea for an education programme which will help to preserve the community's culture. The key to the culture, the customs and rituals, lies in the language and the myths, songs, stories and bushcraft which many of the adults still hold. But all this is in danger of being lost forever in the misery of poverty unless a structure is set up very soon within which hope can be restored and the memories revived.

Although land was given to the Khomani 5 years ago, the community still only survives at a subsistence level and is powerless to effect change without practical assistance, especially through adult education and training and appropriate education for the children. The School will provide a broad programme for children between 4 and 9 years old, embracing both the modern curriculum and the cultural traditions. Over the first 18 months, 2-3 women from the community will be trained to facilitate the programme, under guidance from the teacher, and others will contribute to the cultural content.

As an interim step, land and buildings for use as a school and training centre have been offered by the owners of the farm 'Chavonne', 120kms from Cape Town. This can provide a safe environment where the lifestyles of the women and children are stabilised for periods of time, while the school is established and the women's knowledge and skills developed. The younger adults in the community may also become involved in land management and construction training programmes on the farm. With the educational project within easy reach of the Auburn House Training Centre there can be a direct and flexible connection with the new school and the costs of travelling and accommodation will be reduced significantly.

Once the children are settled into the programme and the women able to run it for periods on their own, plans can be made to open the school in the Kalahari within the community's environment. The intention is for the school to open in February 2005.

This will entail the preparation of a school room and accommodation, of educational equipment and training materials and a website. Sponsors are urgently sought, not only for the school and the running of the programme, but also the transport and accommodation of the trainee women and the children.

EDUCATIONAL PICTURE

The community's needs in terms of education and training fall into the following categories:

- foundation education for 3 - 6 year old children

- supplementary education for 6 - 12 year old children

- information and educational support for the parents of young children and primary-aged children

- supplementary education in literacy, numeracy, English language, general knowledge and computer skills.

The language base of the early childhood and primary education would be Afrikaans, as this is used widely by the community. However, linking into the original Bushmen tongue is important. English would be included, as there is enthusiasm to be able to communicate with visitors.

Contact details :

Auburn Road, Kenilworth, 7708 Cape Town, Republic of South Africa

Tel : +27 21 797 7872 Tel/Fax : +27 21 797 1931

Email : auburnhs@iafrica.com   - 

www.indigenousheritage.org

Banking : First National Bank Branch code 200-109

a/c Auburn House School 50150097340 Ref : Kalahari Children's School