Congratulations! You’ve been selected to serve as a Peace Corps Response Volunteer as a STEM Education Specialist in South Africa at the invitation of Pindelwa Mda, founder of the NGO R-IGNITE.
I arrived at Viedgesville Senior Primary School to a reception beyond anything I could have imagined. Horns blared, scarves fluttered, and the air buzzed with excitement as women in traditional Xhosa attire cheered, and an abundance or learners ran toward me, squealing with joy. I was not only welcomed with vibrant song and dance, but with open arms and open hearts, marking the beginning of a journey I could never have fully anticipated.
What I hadn’t expected were the significant obstacles I would encounter at this rural school. I arrived with hopes—maybe there would be a few computers, possibly some building supplies, or even a class set of scissors. And I assumed the learners would have a fundamental understanding of English. Instead, I found a small school struggling to meet even the most basic instructional needs.
The classrooms were in disrepair, with broken windows, doors, floors, and little natural light. English comprehension was limited, as students grappled with a language that was not their own. Supplies were nearly non-existent, and electricity limited to the principal’s office due to theft and the crumbling infrastructure. The situation was far more challenging than I had ever anticipated.
But despite these hardships, the children’s hunger to learn continues to shine through. Their enthusiasm for hands-on learning is infectious—even if our “coding” lessons involves using paper coding blocks, our “robots” are students themselves, and our engineering projects are built with old bottles, used boxes, and kabob skewers.
Each project, from building simple machines to learning basic coding concepts, is designed to be both meaningful and relevant to the lives of the learners by providing authentic learning experiences that ignite imagination, encourage resourcefulness, and develop problem-solving skills—for both the students and myself—and the perseverance, creativity, and resilience these learners display in the face of adversity is nothing short of inspiring.
I continue to work to make STEM education both obtainable and sustainable by collaborating with staff, using recycled materials, buying affordable local supplies, and seeking community donations. We are also beginning to liaise with other primary schools in the region to broaden resources and share ideas.
The road to Viedgesville Senior Primary School isn’t always easy to navigate, but with the vision and dedication of Ms. Mda, the support of this incredible community, and the sheer joy and eagerness of the children, I am continually reminded that this amazing journey will be giving me far more than I could ever hope to give in return.
“Hoping for the best, prepared for the worst, and unsurprised by anything in between.” — Maya Angelou
