A PENARTH teacher has praised her recent experience volunteering in schools in Lesotho for the charity Dolen Cymru.
Helen Dawson recently returned from a five month placement working with a large number of orphans and vulnerable children in heavily impoverished areas, organised by the Lesotho Teacher Placement Programme (LTTP). During her placement at Qacha's Nek Government Primary School, Helen presented the school with more than 100 books to form a library, many of which were donated by charity shops in Penarth.
She said they were desperately short of resources. "The classes were huge with up to 90 pupils each, and poverty was high with malnourished children dressed in rags with no shoes," she said. "However, their spirit was indomitable, their thirst for learning inspiring and their generosity overwhelming. There were many challenges but this was compensated for by the warmth and kindness of the community, our colleagues and the enthusiasm and motivation of the children."
An experienced English Additional Language (EAL) teacher, Helen spent four days a week in a primary school and one day a week in a secondary school. Having returned to Wales she is currently working in Bangor as part of a team preparing workshops and training in local schools for Dolen Cymru.
An open day for interested parties to sign up for the LTTP in 2014 is being held at the Dolen Cymru offices in Cardiff, at 127 Bute Street, Cf10 5LE, on Sunday June 23 between 11am and 2.30pm. Helen also said the placement would welcome donations from schools, libraries and individuals with suitable - and illustrated if possible - reading material for children aged five to 14. They especially need reference books such as dictionaries and atlases. For more information about the LTTP open day call 02920 497390 To read more about Helen's placement see her blog - dawsonhelen7.wordpress.com
