Teach the kids at the hospital

 

 

The SystemV4FK facilitates a reading program for children in the wards, enabling them to develop their English literacy levels during their tenure at the hospital.  The program uses a few basic resources (e.g. simple children's stories, flashcards, and dictionaries) to help the kids grow in their ability to read, speak, and understand English.  This should (when they return to school) result in better marks for the children, seeing as all subjects within Kenya's formal school system (apart from Swahili) are taught in English.  But a further side benefit is an improved sense of well-being, as their confidence grows in their ability to communicate in Kenya's co-national language.BackgroundSome background to V4FK's hospital teaching program is that most kids at the hospital are 'stuck' there after being discharged, because their parents or relatives cannot afford the fees.  (The hospital refuses to release patients whose fees have not been paid as a way of necessitating payment.) 

 

One can easily imagine the damaging effects to the children's education for those stuck at the hospital for months on end, without any teachers to teach them.Recognizing the problem such a predicament presents, V4FK seeks to offer a positive solution through their hospital teaching program, enabling young patients to move ahead with their education despite their circumstances.  Teach What?While V4FK can (and does) provide opportunities for volunteers to teach several subjects, we focus on English in particular, because it forms the foundation for learning all other subjects within Kenya.  As such, a good background in English helps the youth to 'catch up' in their other subjects upon release from the hospital.Age RangeV4FK's hospital teaching program is specific to children from nursery age (e.g. 4 years old) up to around 14 years of age.  As such, the general structure for the program is designed to suit pupils falling within that age range.  

 

Having said that, volunteers wishing to teach patients outside of that general age category should express their interest when inquiring.  We can then see if alternative arrangements may be made.

Your Impact
There is a popular saying which we very much believe in: "Give a man a fish and he eats for a day, teach him how to fish and he eats for a lifetime."  While there are certain circumstances where just giving a fish may be the best we can do, e.g. in times of national disasters and crises, it is far more sustainable to look for ways to help people support themselves.  And nowhere is this aim more achievable than in the field of education, particularly with the youth to be encountered at the hospital on a daily basis.  

More Information
For more information about hospital teaching opportunities with V4FK, please write in at volunteer4freekenya@gmail.com.  Thank you.