Acasai, an after-school study initiative, is calling on university students and retired teachers to volunteer to teach pupils next year.
The non-profit organisation, based at Parow library, assists pupils with their homework as well as test and exam preparations.
Presently, the organisation relies on donations from friends and family as well as proceeds from fund-raisers to be able to provide the classes.
Pupils from Parow West Primary, Parow East Primary, Parow North Primary, and President High school attend the two-hour classes, which are offered for free, after school, daily.
“Covid actually made the gap between the school and the child bigger. The kids need help and Covid highlighted that even more,” said Cecelia Arendse, who founded Acasai.
In-person classes cover all the subjects in the CAPS curriculum.
“We really need volunteers, retired teachers and especially university students so that the children can see that if they work hard they can also go to university,” Ms Arendse said.
Ms Arendse, a Parow resident, studied human resources management and taught English to Chinese students for three years.
“To me it’s about more than just helping the children with school work. We teach them our core values, which are accountability, integrity and respect for yourself and others,” Ms Arendse said.
She adds that some of the children’s inability to read, especially with understanding, is one of the challenges they’ve encountered during the study programme.
Inez Weber, a retired teacher from Parow, taught English for 26 years. She started volunteering at Acasai after she was medically boarded.
“I simply love being here. I was a born teacher. I love working with children, especially helping those who struggle to read. After a few months to see that child being able to read, even if it’s a Grade R book, is so beautiful,” Ms Weber said.