With the desire to assist in tackling literacy
challenges facing some pockets within our local community, the Rotary Club of
Tauranga provided a grant to Nga Reanga e Toru- 3 Generations Trust for their
teaching and learning resources. The resources are used by the educators and
children that the Trust works with. Currently the Trust works in an early
education centre in one of the lowest socio-economic areas in Tauranga. The
education trust runs two programmes in the centre. ‘Twos and Threes’ for
children aged 2 – 3 years, and ‘School Transition’ a year-long programme for 4
year olds.
Rachel Peacocke, co-founder and chairperson of
the Trust says to succeed academically with children from low-literacy families
they need to start working with them from the earliest available opportunity:
“The Trust’s relationship with Rotary Tauranga
and the support they have provided has been instrumental in our ability to not
only teach children in the centre but send home items of educational value that
might otherwise be cost prohibitive to the child’s family.”
To this effect Rotary have approved the
purchase of resources for the home such as books, pencils, games, cards, and
educational toys, most notably a Leapfrog fridge phonics toy for every child in
the centre.
Rachel says the impact these resources can have
in families is far-reaching and goes beyond anything the Trust can measure. For example, the 60 Leapfrog
phonics toys Rotary purchased means that children will now be able to develop an understanding from
within the home around a letter having a name, and a sound. For some of
the children, prior to this educational toy being provided, there's been little
or no literacy learning-taking place in the home.
“In the past I’ve worked with 4-year-old
children who had no concept of what a letter was or that it had a purpose. These
resources can also serve to educate younger siblings. There have been anecdotes
from parents who have told us that when a four-year-old is engaged with one of
their learning toys, then the younger sibling or siblings are often right there
beside them wanting to learn too.”
The ‘Nga Reanga e Toru – 3 Generations Trust’
vision of literacy parity in the Bay of Plenty region within three generations
is admirable. A recent visit from a few Rotarians to the Centre that the Trust
operates out of was encouraging and crystalised the value of the Rotary Club of
Tauranga providing the educational resources for the pre-schoolers.
Dr Richard Speed, President of the Rotary Club
of Tauranga also recognises the challenges facing children in low socio-economic
areas and encourages Rotary Clubs to look at ways where they can be involved in
tackling the challenges:
“Literacy is the foundation of
learning. Being properly prepared for primary schooling is essential and this
program goes a long way towards achieving this in a low decile population.
While it is too early to measure outcomes already we are seeing the
preschoolers and their Whanau engaging enthusiastically.
I strongly encourage other Rotary
clubs to get alongside in tackling the challenges facing the preschoolers in
their areas.”
By - Rachel Peacocke, Nga Reanga e Toru – 3 Generations Trust’
