Learners from the Seven Steps Academy for the Deaf in Zonnebloem now have a new art therapy classroom thanks to a generous donation by Breadline Africa.
The school is the only oral-aural hearing-impaired school in the province.
The oral-aural method teaches learners to use their remaining hearing through amplification and the use of speechreading and visual cues to aid the child’s understanding of language.
Lee-Ann Kannemeyer, principal at the school, says this method of communication opens more opportunities for the learners who have the potential to learn to speak.
The school accommodates about 106 learners from pre Grade R to matric.
On Friday 11 February the 60 m² prefabricated classroom was officially launched. The principal says the building will serve as a multifunctional classroom where creative art therapy, history and other subjects will be taught.
Breadline Africa is the biggest supplier of converted shipping containers and prefabricated structures for poverty relief in the country and works with children from disadvantaged communities providing critical infrastructure, learning resources and feeding schemes.
Marion Wagner, Director at Breadline Africa, says they are thrilled to be involved.
“There was a major need to add a new classroom to the facility due to a shortage of space.
“It has been fitted with specialised charging sockets for hearing aids, acoustic panels and a visual fire alarm. All these components have been installed to create a conducive environment for learners to enjoy a creative activity.”
Wagner says they hope the new classroom will strengthen the school’s aim to give learners a chance to incorporate back into mainstream schooling or university.
“Creating this functional space will support the school’s curriculum that will open up doors to a better future for these children.”
She adds: “We saw this school was an amazingly well-run institution and an opportunity to make a difference in the lives of so many of these children that need additional help and additional space.”
Kannemeyer says art therapy is an important component of their education and enables the learners to express themselves.
“We have a social worker that also works with them doing art therapy and it ties in with the curriculum as well as the social work aspect. If there’s issues it often comes out through their art.”
Grade 7 learner Likhona Ntaka says: “I love the new classroom, it’s nice and cool because it has air conditioning. I love doing art here.”
Maredia Hajum, also in Grade 7, says: “I like doing art because art is interesting. Last year I didn’t like art. The subjects that we do here, history, maths and English, I find it all so interesting that it makes me want to come to school even more than what I used to last year.”
Kannemeyer says: “We as educators are so appreciative of this opportunity to unlock our learners creative potential and give them another medium to express themselves.”
Kannemeyer says they are in the process of trying to raise additional funds to purchase another mobile classroom to be used as a language enrichment centre for the younger learners.
- For more information visit www.breadline.org