Lenny Henry & Clinton Global Initiative support Warwick in Africa volunteer teachers
The University is celebrating the fifth year of a programme in which Warwick student volunteers work with schools in Africa. Warwick students and alumni, representatives from the University of the Witwatersrand and friends and funders of the project attended an event at the University on 22 May to mark the occasion and to launch a short film about the project. The film includes an introduction from Warwick Honorary Graduate Lenny Henry. The volunteers were also delighted to hear the news that the programme was now endorsed by the “Clinton Global Initiative University”
Warwick in Africa began as small pilot project in 2006: 12 Warwick maths students taught maths in suburban and township schools of Johannesburg, South Africa. The project has grown rapidly and in 2009, Warwick students taught in eleven schools in Alexandra and Soweto in Johannesburg and in two schools in Dar es Salaam, Tanzania reaching over 6500 learners and supporting more than 90 African teachers. The project is funded by donations from Warwick alumni and friends and foundations including Barclays Capital.
This summer, 36 students will provide over 200 student teaching weeks in the University of Warwick’s partner secondary schools in South Africa and Tanzania. Through our students’ support we expect to help nearly 10,000 African learners this year.
New for 2010 are two pilot projects in Ghana: skills development masterclasses for 200 teachers developed by Institute of Education academic staff and alumni; and summer school classes for 600 secondary school pupils. These Ghana pilot projects will include support for teachers and pupils in English as well as in Maths. The teacher masterclasses will mean that nearly 30, 000 learners will be benefit.
The programme has also brought groups of South African teachers to Warwick for a two week programme of activities, seminars and school visits to deepen their subject and teaching knowledge. The programme has also worked with the International Gateway for Gifted Youth (IGGY) and has enrolled 43 gifted South African pupils from partner township schools as members of IGGY, three of whom attended IGGY U at Warwick last summer. This summer, 10 township pupils will receive scholarships to join IGGY U in Botswana.
None of this can be achieved without the generous and welcome support of our alumni and friends. If you are interested in finding out how you can make a difference to education in Africa, contact Mary McGrath, Development Director : Warwick in Africa (tel: 024 7652 2661 or e-mail mary.mcgrath@warwick.ac.uk.
You can watch the Warwick in Africa film and find out more from Monday 24th May at www.warwick.ac.uk/go/warwickinafrica
For further information please contact:
Peter Dunn, Head of Communications
Communications Office, University House,
University of Warwick, Coventry, CV4 8UW, United Kingdom
email: p.j.dunn@warwick.ac.uk
Tel: +44 (0)24 76 523708 Mobile/Cell: +44 (0)7767 655860