Catch-Up connects volunteers to children in need of extra lessons to catch up on schoolwork; the organisation is making a difference.
Centurion, Gauteng – There are hundreds of thousands of primary school children out there that lack the basic education skills needed to progress in school life. Many children have fallen behind their classmates and struggle to keep up. A solution to this problem was found and has seen children thrive.
Catch-Up is a volunteering project where people from all walks of life give a few hours of their time to tutor at underprivileged schools. They focus on grade 4 to grade 7 learners who struggle to pass their classes. The programme was launched by former OUTsurance CEO turned philanthropist Ernst Gouws.
At OUTsurance, they have a team that works tirelessly to identify people in need and lend a helping hand. Staff at the company also get the chance to put forward charities they wish to support. The whole company then gets involved in making a difference. They teamed up with Catch-Up to help tutor children who need a little extra help with school work.
With tutoring sessions at schools on Saturday mornings, and over school holidays, OUTsurance helps these learners to “catch up”.
“In addition to academic tutoring, we also facilitate music teaching classes, debating societies and art classes.” – OUTsurance
Catch-Up tutoring ensures that fewer learners drop out of school; it improves their general levels of confidence and helps our schooling system to produce more matriculants who can contribute positively to our country’s economic growth.
OUTsurance, through their Staff Helping SA OUT programme, supports numerous community projects. Staff members currently support Catch-Up as tutors at Paradise Christian School and Walter Sisulu Primary, both in Olievenhoutbosch.
“We were overwhelmed by the response from our staff who signed up as Catch-Up tutors. A group of eager OUTies spent a Saturday morning at Paradise Christian School in Olievenhoutbosch. With help from the top quality study material provided by Study Champ, our staff had the very best tools to work closely with students in small groups focusing on their English and Mathematics curriculum.
But it wasn’t all work and no play. Everyone took time to play a game or two of soccer and enjoy a healthy meal generously sponsored by In The Kitchen catering.”
The ‘In The Kitchen’ catering company currently supplies lunch packs every week to over 120 Catch-Up learners, delivered to the schools where they are being tutored — all free of charge.
These tutoring sessions take place every weekend, and there are always OUTsurance staff members willing to volunteer to help the children in need.
Catch-Up relies on volunteers, the more people volunteering, the more schools they can assist and the more students get a chance to be tutored. If you would like to find out more about Catch-Up and how to get involved, check out their website here.
by 