Blend Learning

When tools for learning are blended, students thrive as individuals. Bantry Bay, SOUTH AFRICA

Opportunity to Demonstrate

Creative demonstrations hold attention in class. Montshiwa, SOUTH AFRICA

Showcase Achievements

Rewarding achievements establishes community affirmation. Disaneng, SOUTH AFRICA

Learning Together

Learning in teams improves service quality. Stockholm, SWEDEN

Share Responsibilities

Teams on site are more powerful than an individuals on a couch. Strand, SOUTH AFRICA

Give Attention

Spending quality and focused time when training increases the possibilities to implement learning acquired. Durban, SOUTH AFRICA

Start Early

Everyone can serve - the earlier you start, the wider your horizons become. Montshiwa, SOUTH AFRICA

Learning by doing

The learning never stops and the doing always follows. Strand, SOUTH AFRICA

Reaching Out

Two cultures, or even three can meet to join in a meaningful sharing of a valuable learning experience. Strand, SOUTH AFRICA

Caring enough

It takes a serious closeness to demonstrate that one cares. Kwadabeka, SOUTH AFRICA

Witness engaged learning

Learning can happen anywhere, together - engaged. Pretoria, SOUTH AFRICA

Sunday, May 20, 2012

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Agents of Change that Serve

Young people's service to South African communities can greatly impact the change needed to enable schools to achieve their literacy goals.

Volunteers in Technology and Literacy (VITAL) is, therefore, a project aimed at providing training and support for youth in South Africa to enable them to be agents of change within those learning communities. The 13th Vice-Chancellor and Principal of the University of Free State in South Africa, Dr Jonathan Jansen, let it slip that he considered it crucial "that we ... teach our students ... not only how to give of their skills, but how to give of themselves in service to communities." Such a commitment is needed and VITAL, as a project of the Swedish-based non-profit learning organization, LEARNING ACADEMY WORLDWIDE, is intent on helping realize that vision in South Africa.

Clearly there is a need to make a difference for our young people (as the video so powerfully illustrates) - there are literally millions who can serve if we are creative enough to mediate viable and meaningful ways for them to serve. VITAL can do that for South Africa's youth.