To better understand the community in which our learners live, we were given the honor of a tour guided by Banks, co-founder of Ubuntu Education Fund. This man's story is remarkable and it is beyond admirable what he is doing for his community. We were privileged to explore the local townships with him. He took us to his facility, where pre-school teachers are implementing educational strategies currently being used in the United States. In addition to pre-school, the facility offers afterschool programs and a respectable healthcare clinic for children (adults are not turned away) who are living with HIV/AIDS or Tuberculosis. We also visited the Red Location Museum where we learned about the unimaginable conditions of the community during the Apartheid. Banks explained the dynamics of the community as we drove down narrow streets overcrowded with shanties and street venders selling roasted sheep heads and businesses ran out of barred cargo trailers. He took us to a community market. Here we talked to a local medicine women. Township people could come to her and explain their need, she would provide the natural material needed. For example, a person could purchase natural sunscreen or a natural remedy that would get a women to say yes to a marriage proposal. Banks himself was raised in this community and was able to give first hand information about the community of our students. Understanding the community and the culture of the learners is an important aspect of teaching. Knowledge of the community helps to make learning relevant and engaging. In addition, any insight into the lives of our students allows empathy and understanding to build report and lasting relationships with children.
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