Loved and Appriciated

On the 6^th of October, I drove out to the Sizisa Ukhanyo Preschool in Khayelitsha. It was the first time I had gone on my own and was a significant day for me. I was planning on leading a short workshop for the teachers, as part of my project for The Warehouse's Social Transformation Course. My plan was to teach them about the 'Wheel of Humans Needs' and to get them to think positively about their roles as teachers. I entered the time with realistic expectations as I knew the chaotic environment of the Preschool well (the plan was to share during the kids nap time). I brought yummy iced doughnuts along with me to make the time feel more special and to bless the teachers with a treat.

Once we sat down, I handed out sheets of paper with the wheel on it (translated in Xhosa) and we began discussing the different human needs. I had them look positively at their teaching jobs to think about which of their needs were being met. I've regularly observed during last year that many of them don't act like they enjoy teaching, so I wanted them to look at themselves with greater significance. A few of them responded...but then the discussion took off more as we began to discuss how the children's needs are met each day at the school. It was amazing as we began to pick apart their daily routine and all the teachers were able to see that these various needs (to different degrees) were being met. I was also able to share some of my personal observations of how the kids are being significantly influenced, which I think they found encouraging. After our discussion I went to get a covered surprise that I had brought along with me.

What I uncovered was a collage, full of pictures of the kids and teachers over the last 8 months. At once they started screaming and jumping up and down. Two of the teachers ran up and hugged and kissed me!! They were thrilled to see pictures of themselves and touched that I had made it just for them! It never ceases to amaze me how much South Africans love to get their pictures taken! We laughed together and many of them counted how many times they were in pictures, just like young school girls! It ended up being the hit of the day...and I realized that they may have already forgotten about the truths we had just discussed...but over all they felt loved and appreciated, and that was the greatest accomplishment of all!