The SOUNS

The Rotary Club of Pretoria East started its first Global Grant SOUNS project in 2011 in five schools in Mamelodi, east of Pretoria.

Since then, a second Global Grant has allowed the club to expand the project by:

• placing over 400 sets into 11 primary schools in Gauteng,

• setting up a partnership with the US Peace Corps organisation where over 90 volunteers have utilised SOUNS in their communities,

• partnering with The PEN organisation and 26 of their crèches in and around central Pretoria, and

• introducing the programme into 95 independent crèches in Gauteng.

Based on targeting 35 pupils per classroom, about 14 000 pupils are reached each year. In addition, the option of moving into adult literacy programmes is being researched. The programme may also be expanded with Gauteng Education Department schools in and around Pretoria.

The SOUNS programme is a step by step process utilising simple tools and techniques to teach pupils to become readers.

Step 1 is to identify the sounds in words and identify the letter symbol representing that sound. This is done in small groups with emphasis on playing games with the letters while learning.

Step 2 is to build simple phonic words by “pulling out” the sounds of a word (building and writing words). 

Step 3 the sounding out of phonetically written words through which the pupil discovers that he or she can read.

The next step is to move on to reading the first book and here, the Club uses the books from the RC of White River’s project Books in Homes.

The Rotary Club of Pretoria East remains committed to the further expansion of this project both at primary school level and with pre-school children.

SOUNS PROJECT DURING COVID TIMES

Dear Camilla and the Rotary Club Sweden and South Africa,

It is with deep gratitude that I write this email to give you appreciation for your generosity during these difficult days. Your contribution made R500 food vouchers possible for 10 vulnerable Berakah families who have been adversely affected by the COVID-19 pandemic. Lost jobs and the closure of Berakah to prevent the spread of the disease has left our families suffering from food insecurity, emotional distress, and lack of support in the care of their children. 
"We would like to thank you again for your generosity during these trying times. God bless you. Thank you."

Berakah has much to do to prepare our nursery school to reopen. We hope to have at least two classrooms ready by the middle of September. The health regulations are extensive and costly, but we deeply desire to continue on-campus early childhood services, even if it has to look radically different than before! Until then, thank you for helping us to care for our families during lock down.