Hi there all,
Herewith the first Tsamma Land news letter, if you wouldlike to receive the news letters please contact Vanessa at Vanessa
admin@red-duneadventures.com.
Tsamma Land Newsletter
Five months ago Dinah, myself and Jan looked at one another with one thought in our minds – how are we going to do this? At the time Tsamma Land was a dream with lots and lots of work and recourses needed and we had no idea where our help will come from… Lucky for us a lot of amazing people came onboard to support us with advice, love and loads of recourses to make our dream of a safe place where kids could come to play, learn and grow a reality.
Since then Tsamma Land has grown into a huge success with 30 kids enjoying the benefit of the books, art and craft materials, games and toys we received through all your generous donations.
Extra activities (other than the learning) we organised so far include:
• A Fathers day card as our very first craft activity
• Two holiday programs which included art and craft activities, game drives, movies and a concert
• Arbour day celebration
• Pay it forward day
OUR STORY SO FAR….
Our doors opened on 4 June 2012 to accommodate the children who go to school in Welkom, and who was in great need of a place where they could go to do their homework. Fortunately the lady who made herself available as teacher at the school was a relief teacher at the school in Welkom so not only was she known to the kids but she is also familiar with the school work.
We had a hugely successful holiday program after which the children made a potjie with rooster koek and potato salad at Dinah’s house to thank her for he program. They supplied everything even kneading the dough for the bread themselves.
The report back from children and parents alike is very positive and the hard work done by the kids and Dinah showed in the report cards. We are even able to set a goal of 80% as a class goal for this term.
FUTURE PLANS…
The future looks bright for Tsamma Land.
We are very much looking forward to our Christmas party which will double as the grand opening, end of year party and welcome party for the little ons in next year’s kindergarten class.
The doors for the kindergarten offering children from 3-5 the opportunity to hoe their skills for the “big” school will open on 16 January 2013. In the kindergarten we will focus on developing the skills the children need to be ready for school and thus giving them a definite leg up for their future. We also have a retired kindergarten teacher who will be spending time with Dinah and the kids helping with the practical aspects of handling a class with varied age groups.
Over and above that we are also planning to open the door to our very own library and media centre where not only the children will benefit but also all the other staff. We also hope to add adult computer literacy classes to our list of programs offered.
And… in the long run we hope to add a crèche for babies to our list of services offered and a Tsamma Land scholarship program to enable those who want to study further the opportunity!
OUR TEACHER…
Those who have visited our school might have met our teacher Dinah. She is a dedicated teacher currently studying Early Child Development at the college in Upington. Driving in to town once a week for classes is not without its challenges but it is something she does with pleasure as it not only benefit her but also enhances the kind of care she will be able to give the kids.
The kids love her as she is able to communicate to the on heir level often when you see the kids play it is difficult to distinguish between her and the kids.
She also has been teaching at the Welkom school as relief teacher witch gives her the unique ability to assist the school kids with their home work, and also being well in tune with the school programme.
FROM THE TEACHERS PEN….
(in Afrikaans first and translated below)
Dit is vir my lekker om by Tsamma Land te wees, want hier het ons ‘n familie geword. Ons lag saam, ons huil saam, ons doen alles saam. Hier leer ek nie net die kinders nie; ons leer elke dag van mekaar. Ek help hulle met hul take en hulle help my ook met myne. Met al die skenkings wat ons gekry het is dit ‘n groot plesier om te leer.
Ouers ek wil net se julle kinders het myne ook geword en as een ‘n dag nie by die skool was nie voel dit of ‘n stukkie van my wat weg is. Al skel ek ook so baie is dit net omdat ek lief is vir hulle en wil he hulle moet beter presteer, want ek glo geen ouer se hart sal so bly wees as om ‘n goeie retort te ontvang ne.
Ek wil elkeen wat besoek afle by Kgalagadi uitnooi om te kom kyk hoe ons plekkie lyk!
For me it is a pleasure to be involved at Tasamma Land, here we became a family who laugh, cry and do everything together. It is a place where I not only teach the kids but we also learn from each other. I help them with their papers and they also help me with my projects. With all the donations we have received it is a joy to learn!
For the parents I want to say: Your kids have become mine, and when one is not at school for a day it feels like a piece of me that is missing. I may be quite hard on the kids, but it is only because I love them and want them to do well at school. I also believe that parents feel a special kind of joy when they receive good school reports.
I would like to extend an open invitation to any one of you
who visit the park to come and visit our school!
LAST BUT NOT LEAST….
Thank you to every one for your support, love and care and
for giving so abundantly! We can see the difference in the
kids, they have hope and help for a future as bright
as the Kalahari Sun!
Tsamma Land Greetings!
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PLEASE! There are so many of us you can contact about this, that should be no problem. 
People like Jannie, Vanessa, Lion Queen and Scouter have worked their behinds off to make this all happen. Don't spoil it for them.
. Common Mites! We can do better than this - are there any spare volley ball nets and balls that are not being used? School holidays are around the corner!
