Our COVID-19 Response
Rest assured that here at Inkululeko we have taken the time to educate ourselves and take necessary precautions regarding COVID-19 for the health and safety of our volunteers and students.
A challenge that Inkululeko faced during the COVID-19 pandemic was the need to move from face-to-face instruction to a remote environment. Inkululeko operates in resource-limited spaces so this makes it especially trying during the pandemic.
A constant issue in Makhanda is the dichotomy between the town and the township along with differences in educational resources. “The main goal that I have for the program is to ensure that no learner is left behind,” said Vuyokazi Twani, Teaching Lead at Inkululeko. Multiple approaches were taken to provide resources for learners in the township to continue their education. But, the challenge is to find remote practices for those from very disadvantaged backgrounds, loaning laptops has been the most successful approach. To combat the adverse impacts on education resulting from the pandemic, Inkululeko instituted a program where learners sign out and rent laptops from the organization. The funding for more laptops is currently underway but until that has arrived learners rotate the laptops.
Inkululeko hopes to eventually return to in person tutoring. Many learners have had difficulty attending tutoring sessions as lack of technology, expensive data, and household duties have interfered. Leandra Fobe, Inkululeko’s Social Enterprise Lead, put into perspective the challenges that came with working from home. “We struggled to get data for them as well, and some of them just decided ‘no I’ve given up.’ This doesn’t help the situation. It was a stressful moment for them as well because they had a lot of work to do with little time.” However, the curriculum of the tutoring offered by Inkululeko is strict, rigid, and the topic changes each week. Tutors are attempting to ensure that each learner catches up, which means that tutoring sessions are especially rigorous now. However, Inkululeko continues to adapt to the pandemic: providing laptops, moving tutoring groups online, and continuing to provide support for their learners.
Zoom Meeting
Some of our tutors along with the teaching lead, Vuyokazi Twani were having a meeting for a workshop.
“The biggest challenge that I have experienced during the COVID times [is the disparity in learning opportunities between the town and township]. The learners in the township were just quiet because their education was not continuing,” said Vuyokazi. Due to the pandemic, Vuyokazi and her team have had to adapt to unpredictable times. However, now she believes the Inkululeko staff and tutors are becoming more familiar with teaching remotely.
Inkululeko is grateful to have the support of Khula Tech Solutions as our internet sponsor as we continue to serve learners in South Africa by remotely engaging tutors from around the world.
What is Inkululeko doing?
Inkululeko has continued to find ways to carry out its mission.
Photo from Inkululeko’s online Poetry event.
We have prioritized the mental, emotional and physical health of our colleagues above all else. Colleagues around the world have been provided mental health resources to use and have been encouraged to seek out any other resources for support. Colleagues have been encouraged to take mental health breaks when needed, too.
Virtual staff meetings have increased in frequency to ensure everyone is on the same page and that everyone is supporting one another as we move forward.
On April 25, 2020, Inkululeko partnered with Nho Rhu Poetic society, from Syracuse University, and hosted a worldwide poetry event via Zoom. Faculty, staff members, poets, and other partners of Inkululeko joined in and listened to poetry from the safety of their homes. This event was a great way to bring people together online and forge a new sort of community amid the pandemic.
“With this fast evolving situation, we have intentionally ensured our colleagues are safe, healthy and supported,” said Jason Torreano, Executive Director. “In weekly calls we prioritize how we can support one another through this. We want healthy colleagues who can then ensure we support our learners through this unprecedented global health crisis.”
“If this pandemic does not allow us to be innovative we will be refusing to grow, sometimes we ought to find light amidst darkness so that when the light comes we are ready to connect with it,” said Zuko Gqadavama, Academic and Business Coordinator. “The 4th Industrial Revolution is here and as Inkululeko we need to adapt not to fit in but to grow as the organisation.”
If you are keen to learn more about how to get involved, click here.