The IIE’s Varsity College Waterfall students teach Chloorkop Primary School Grade 1’s about fundamental children’s rights in celebration of Human Rights Day
Learners asked thoughtful questions and were engaged throughout the lesson with a powerful reminder that even at a young age, children can understand and appreciate complex concepts like human rights.
More than 200 Chloorkop Primary School Grade 1 learners were recently taught about their fundamental rights as part of the IIE’s Varsity College Waterfall campus’ Human Rights Day celebrations.
The school is the campus’ Kids Under Mentorship of Others programme, the IIE Varsity College, and IIE MSA’s national CSI initiative.
Members of the VC Cares (student volunteer body) and student volunteers from the college taught the Grade 1s about their right to food and water, right to safety, right to love and care, right to play, and right to learn.
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VC Cares also had a rights tree activity, where each Grade 1 learner stuck a leaf on the rights tree as a reminder of their commitment to remember their rights but also to respect the rights of others.
The sessions ended with sweet treats, and the rights tree with the accompanying rights will remain in their classrooms for the rest of the year.
Vanessa Tiro, a fourth-year Bachelor of Education in Intermediate Phase Teaching student and VC Cares committee member at the Waterfall campus, said the day was incredibly rewarding.
“Working with Grade 1 learners was a new experience. It was amazing to see how curious and eager to learn they were,” Tiro said. “Being in the classroom and explaining human rights to the Grade 1 learners was a unique experience. I had to adapt my teaching style to meet their needs, which was a valuable learning experience for me.”
Tiro added it was a beautiful sight because when they presented the learners with sweets with a little human rights note, they were so grateful.
“Seeing the learners grasp the concept of their rights and responsibilities was heartwarming. I loved how they had some clue about what Human Rights Day is and how they were able to answer my questions.”
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The learners asked thoughtful questions and were engaged throughout the lesson. It was a powerful reminder that even at a young age, children can understand and appreciate complex concepts such as human rights.
“What I loved the most was when we were about to leave, everyone wanted a hug. That was so cute; even though they met me for a brief I got an ‘I love you’ from one or two learners.”
As an education student, Tiro concluded that experiences such as these reinforced students’ passion for teaching and learning. “I’m grateful for the opportunity to make a positive impact on young minds.”
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