Grade 7 Community Project

Only 2 Hours

Day 2: I couldn't understand why the learners who had been to the Community Centre the
day before were so eager to attend today as well, until ... I visited the Centre myself. What turned out to be two ordinary hours in one day of our busy lives meant two precious, memorable hours for the children at the Community Centre. The Grade 7 learners, the parents who attended and I were welcomed by toddlers, no older than five years and no younger than one year. They stared at us, some smiled and in many of them I could sense a feeling of apprehension. It took no longer than a few minutes to acquaint ourselves with the tiny, frail bodies that ran around in the courtyard. We joined in. We were part of a bigger picture. We were all lost in the moment, in the  merriment, but more importantly, we were beacons in their dark, hopeless and desperate world.
Their tight embraces, the smiles on their forlorn faces and the awe and glee in their eyes made my learners and I realize one thing... we can make a difference! Even if it was just for two hours.
I have no doubt that we touched their lives... as they touched ours... even if it was momentarily.

I didn't teach today... But I learnt a very valuable lesson, and I am certain, so did our Grade 7 learners - Never take life for granted.
And indeed, time is the most precious commodity in our lives and without a doubt, we would want to relive those two hours over and over again.

The Grade 7s would like to thank the Christ Christian Care Community Centre and everyone who was involved with the implementation of the project. Thank you, for letting us experience the other side of the grass.

Ms Mohamed

 Grade 6 Community Project

OUR DAY AT THE ZOO
On Saturday 4^th September, the Grade 6 S class spent a few hours at the zoo doing community service. This is what we did:

Working with primates

Gorilla
The gorilla was taken out of the outdoor enclosure and put inside. We were given a tray of fruit and vegetables and were told to put the food in various places inside the outdoor enclosure while the gorilla was gone. Some of us put the food in the trees and even climbed the jungle gyms to hide the food. When we were done we were led out of the enclosure to go see the gorilla find his food and eat it. The gorilla was enormous! But there was only one gorilla. The zoo keeper said the gorilla is very anti-social and that he had come from Germany. There used to be a female gorilla with him, but he was not very fond of her. They are going to try and put other male gorillas with him.

Chimpanzees
We walked to the kitchen where the food was kept for the chimps. There was a bucket with frozen fruit and ice. We were given another tray of fruit and veg. to go hide in the chimp's enclosure while they were gone. When we walked through the passage to the outdoor enclosure the chimps tried to grab us - Yiek! After this we took bamboo and fed all the other primates.

By : Carmen Badenhorst