The Learning Exchange

Project Outline

Our main aim of the project is to create a link with Africa. To develop a relationship with the children and communities so that we can learn from each other and grow our cultural understanding of each other's way of life.

Africa is our closest neighbour to our western coast, so close, but yet so far in our understanding of each other. We want to build a 'learning exchange' one from the other, and practically support our struggling neighbour to grow stronger in the aftermath of the AIDS epidemic sweeping it's nations.

Children are the key to South Africa's future. So StarBright wants to help support these children, to give them a better start on their life long learning journey.

Here is a brief overview of how the 'exchange' will work:

Seconded early childhood staff will spend up to 3 months in a selected children’s centre in Cape Town, South Africa.
A selected staff member in the South African centre or a selected early childhood student/graduate/professional will act as a buddy to help the Australian staff member become familiar with the local situation.
These are the first counterparts.
The South African counterpart will travel to Australia with the returning Australian at the end of the first 3 months. This will be the beginning of their Australian secondment.
The Australian counterpart will help the South African to settle in and together they will work with the selection committee to identify the next Australian counterpart.
The new counterpart will work with the South African to learn as much as possible before traveling with them to South Africa at the end of their Australian stay.
In this way a sustainable process will be established. Knowledge transfer will be enhanced and the induction process will begin before the counterparts leave their own country.
StarBright Learning Exchange will develop a network for people and organisations to “adopt” an orphanage and continue to send them equipment and resources such as books, puzzles and other early childhood toys and equipment.

South Africa - Cape Town, May 2006

NYANGA - Etafeni day care centres (above and below) are converted shipping containers, really hot in summer, really cold in winter. No running water, toilets, heating or cooling. Care is provided by mothers of the children, minimal training and little if any formal education. One container would normally have 20+ children cared for each day.

Housing in the townships and ‘informal settlements’ are shacks with no running water or toilets, and are made from whatever materials are at hand. Life is difficult, very poor and HIV infection is estimated at 30%+ of the black population.

Project Partners

StarBright would like to thank the many individuals, companies and organisations that have offered their time, money and support in so many different ways.

Shortly we will be introducing you to our 'Partners' who help to make this exciting project possible.

The exchange program

There will be so much to tell when we complete our first exchange. Watch this space to see how we are helping to support the AIDS orphans of South Africa.