Little children between three and six years old, from the Presbyterian Phumlani Educare Centre in Cape Town, were treated to a visit to the Two Oceans Aquarium in July and hosted by our Environmental Education Centre. We received some great feedback from Eva van Belle, who coordinated the visit.
Eva is an occupational therapist who has been volunteering her services at Phumlani for eight years.
Says Eva: “Note the children’s faces: their total absorption with all the new stimuli, the interaction and learning taking place, are vividly visible. The gentleman at the microscope was marvellous. Here is the proof!”
Another comment from Eva: “I would like to commend the gentleman at the microscope [Fikile Sizwenya]. The enthusiasm plus imparting of knowledge plus appropriate communication left children and adults spellbound.”
Fikile started off as one of the security guards from the Aquarium’s security company, Orbis.
He then completed the volunteer training course at the beginning of 2011, applied for a Visitor Services job, and was appointed.
“He is awesome,” says Two Oceans Aquarium Environmental Education Centre PA to Head of Education Katja Rockstroh.
The tots were also treated to an Aquarium puppet show.
Says Eva: “What a difference it made to have the puppet show done in Xhosa! The children were enthralled. There was good interaction between children and puppets.
“It is quite unfathomable how many new insights and experiences the children had on one morning; it opened up a whole new world to them!
“They were also very aware of the effect of litter, which is a huge problem in their township.
“Thank you, too, for the generous offer of making the teachers members. In this way they can hopefully visit the Aquarium with their own families.”
You can sponsor a disadvantaged child’s visit to the Aquarium. Click here to do so now.
Read more testimonials from teachers here.
