By Grace Ndlovu
A unique learning experience for student volunteers took place at Rhodes University this month - CERCO! The Community Engagement Reading Club Orientation (CERCO) is a short course aimed at training and equipping student volunteers to set up and run reading clubs with learners in various sectors of Makhanda.
The Knowledge for Change Hub at RU Community Engagement was buzzing as the volunteers and student leaders planned how they would run their reading club sessions. Five groups of volunteers had the opportunity to receive constructive feedback from the CERCO coordinator and their peers to ensure the seamless execution of the reading sessions across town. These groups are now assigned to four different community partners.
CERCO comprises two workshops at the start of each year, practical sessions during the year, and a final workshop in the fourth term. It prepares and supports students for a year of engagement with learners ranging from Grade 3 through to Grade 7 learners.
The accredited short course is supported by RUCE and the Department of Literary Studies in English, and is coordinated by Prof. Sam Naidu.
The course is part of the Makhanda Literacy Collective which seeks to address literacy in the critical Foundation Phase through various city-wide initiatives. Makhanda, like the rest of South Africa, is experiencing a crisis in literacy due to the challenges and limitations of the Basic Education system.
“CERCO has been running since 2018 as a direct response to this crisis. Around 140 students have completed the CERCO short course, including during COVID when student volunteers set up reading clubs in their homes and domestic neighbourhoods with siblings and neighbours’ children,” says Prof Naidu.
CERCO has a significant impact on literacy in Makhanda by addressing literacy at a critical stage of development and by promoting a reading culture, when learners first learn to read and are discovering the profound joy of reading for meaning.
It's a valuable experience for RU student volunteers and a lesson in building resilience.
“Our student volunteers face many challenges as volunteering is tough and not always fun, but they are gritty, determined and selfless in their dedication,” Prof Naidu adds.
CERCO is a valuable example of what community engaged learning really means for students. Students make the time to attend the workshops over the weekends, take ownership of the programme, and to stay open to learning and new diverse experiences. They take this further by committing to weekly sessions throughout the academic year.
Students also learn the value of meaningful and reciprocal relationships with their community partners, with the learners, with one another, and with the various other stakeholders such as the CERCO coordinator and RUCE staff.
“It’s heartening to witness the dedication of these students who willingly invest their time and energy into shaping a brighter future for the next generation. For me, CERCO illustrates the profound impact that passionate individuals can have on their community,” says Anna Kinsler, the engaged citizenry coordinator at RUCE.