LEAP Life Orientation. Fellows served as facilitators/consultants in several LO classes providing observation and feedback. Documentation of LEAP LO theoretical model and development for eventual publication. Also worked in LO at Siyabulela Primary in Langa conducting observational research to assess how LEAP can better serve learners in the transition from primary LO to LEAP LO, to capture and give feedback on how LO is functioning nationally/in township context, and to conjecture/propose regarding how LO nationally might develop in the future.

LEAP School Academics. Fellows taught science, math, computer science, English and poetry classes as both lead and assistant teachers in both LEAP 1 and 2, as well as at a LEAP primary feeder school. Introduced and led teacher training (both workshops and/or one-on-one) on methodology and instructional rigor, multiple intelligences and critical thinking, lesson planning, assessment practices, integrating technology, and curriculum development in the area of sustainability. Fellows tutored during the week after school and at Saturday school.

LEAP Admissions. Began initial assessment and development of LEAP admissions assessment tools for student assessment and admission to LEAP School programs.

Computer/IT Training and Support. Observed computer application classes and gave feedback to teachers, primarily about improving room set up. Conducted three workshops at Siyabulela Primary School on how to use SMART Boards. Faculty meeting presentation on instructional technology and models for classroom integration. On-going dialogue with IT staff at LEAP about instructional technology and ways to integrate technology into the school. Set up computer lab at the Langa study center.

Kalkfontein HIV Education/Caregiving Group. Initiated and developed community-led group aiming to diminish further spread of HIV and decrease the stigma that it holds in Kalkfontein. Conducted community needs assessment and created objective and mission statements, explored funding and training resources, and initiated intra-township network with existing education and caregiving groups.

Weekly Adult Entrepreneurial Workshops. Designed & conducted weekly 4 hr seminars on tools, skills and vocabulary for building sustainable community enterprises. Emphasis on community development, entrepreneurship as social service, emphasis on connecting entrepreneurs to one another for collaboration and mutual benefit. Leave participants with a set of entrepreneurial tools and a curriculum for future workshops that are relevant and easily delivered.

Realistic (Drug and prison rehabilitation center in Gugulethu). Fellows offered individual psychotherapy to Realists. Developed new documentation tools for the program. Marketing and fundraising planning re: fresh framework from which to present the organization to funders and community, and new ideas for entrepreneurship with Realists.

Enterprise Facilitation – Ekhaya Bed and Breakfast & Kalkfontein Sewing Coop. Worked with thriving, local business with community development intentions on marketing plan, website development, feedback systems, entrepreneurship workshops, partnerships with LEAP, TWA and others, feedback collection. Worked with director of the Kalkfontein sewing coop on full-cost accounting and unit costs, marketing, email communications and product design.

Micro-enterprise Stimulation/TWA paraphernalia project. Worked with the sewing cooperative on an ongoing partnership with TWA and LEAP for marketing products as well as designing and pricing bags, marketing of bags in the Bay Area, sweatshirts for participants and future product ideas – hats, t-shirts (for TWA and LEAP). Possibility of distribution of TWA branded wine.

National Education Policy Dialogue/LEAP-TWA Think Tank. (See the main forum page.)

LEAP School Marketing and Planning. Fellows worked on rejuvenated argument frame for the LEAP model and funding proposals, including fundraising/ communications materials and developing systems (databases, metrics, etc) for operations, such as website feedback; outline for marketing documents and fundraising proposals; developing a presentation for US audiences; metrics, tracking and framing of data; and funding proposal/argument framing for future funders.

Health Study Project. Fellows assisted with understanding and tracking the socio-, economic and environmental challenges that participants in an ongoing health study face and with determining the relationship between these challenges and medical/ health challenges. Work included project planning facilitation for a part of the project that is separate but related to the 12 year TB/science-based project. Compiled a list of potential funders for the socio-economic stream of the project.

Business Planning – Siyabulela Primary School. Worked with faculty at Siyabulela in the experiential learning process of creating a business plan. Assisted 7th and 8th graders in developing a business plan for Provincial Market Day. Students were selected and will sell their products at Parrow Mall in a Northern suburb of Cape Town in November.

Langa Catering Vocational Training Program. Business/job skills training conducted as a one-day workshop for catering entrepreneurs in Langa on finance and customer service.

Blast Beat at LEAP 1 & 2. Fellows and LEAP faculty worked with 27 students and assisted the group in developing and implementing a business plan for a music promotion/events company for an annual competition. . The business plan and the musicians scouted enter into a competition. Fellows also coordinating Blast Beat and Kalkfontein entrepreneurs, youth & community groups in holding a concert at LEAP. Training included meeting organization, agendas, market pricing, unit costs, tracking expenses, customer service, fundraising/sponsors, and letter writing and delivery method.

Cape Town Youth Sustainability Conference. Assisted group of 15 students with designing and delivering professional presentation that four members from the LEAP environmental education performance group (sponsored by ACCESS) presented at the preliminary sustainability conference on “Smart Living,” which tries to determine how to effectively motivate audiences from thinking about green issues to changing behavior. Training in presentation development, structure, delivery & Powerpoint.

ACCESS (African Climate Change & Earth System Sciences) – Sponsors of educational theater productions by LEAP students “Not too Hot, Not too Cold” and “Earth the Recycling Planet.” Assisted with identifying objectives and outcomes of their partnership with LEAP, concluding that the investment of funds in this project provided a good return on investment and future projects will be undertaken with LEAP to pursue the spread of Earth Science awareness and interest.

Green Club at LEAP 2. Worked with group of 10 students to achieve fresh perspective and new ideas through assisting with weekly meetings, LEAP School recycling systems project, supporting tree planting in Langa and Gugulethu on Arbor Day, listened to their projects and challenges, sharing ideas and tips, and presenting information on green careers with the University of Cape Town team.

UCT & LEAP/Green MBA/TWA Sustainability Partnership. Collaboration to increase capacity to address issues in sustainability; planning a collaborative relationship with the Green MBA program, TWA and LEAP to focus initially on recycling programs, greening of built environment, worm composting, appropriate technology product and business plan contests in townships, and community development projects with Shackdwellers International.

Ultimate Frisbee. Worked with 40 students to engage them in a new gender-neutral sport for the learners to explore and teach to the younger students. Ultimate Frisbee taught to Grade 12s, both boys and girls, which promotes cardiovascular health, speed, finesse, strategy, teamwork, and self-regulation.

Bishops Diversity Week. Worked with 55 students and 10 faculty combined between Bishops School (Cape Town private school) and the LEAP School to facilitate a successful cultural exchange built upon a drumming foundation. Sourced 55 djembe drums for cultural exchange between LEAP and Bishops, facilitated their delivery.

LEAPSA (LEAP Past Student’s Association). Worked with 30 past and present students involved to create a unified and focused alumni association that is ready to develop its initiatives. Assisted with identification of objectives.

CD Project. Coordinated recording involving 100 students; including time to master the audio, facilitate the cover design with LEAP students, print, and distribute CD. Included LEAP 1 & 2 choir and gumboots dancers, a special song written by LEAP 1 students, conversations about education and LEAP. Free for students, families, community, partnerships and useful tool for marketing collateral, fundraising for LEAP and TWA, and empowering students.

Rapping – Hip Hop as an Educational Tool. Worked with 10 students – and ultimately impacting 140 students – to spark interest in creative expression and another path to developing an individual voice. Outcome was a shared connection and an exploration of culture; focusing on sharing as much as possible; the Code of Conduct (values in action); What is a quest? (importance of the journey and asking questions); and education is the key. Resulted in a new perspective and mutual respect of culture between administration and students.

Educational Films at LEAP and the Waterfront Cinema. 30 students directly involved (140 indirectly) with another media with which to explore and empower through education. Projects included:

• Hip-hop: Beyond Beats & Rhymes (culture of Hip-hop by way of LO discussion)
• GE food: Future of Food (explanation and science of industrial agriculture)
• Human Rights Film Festival. Arranged for 20 students to go to “The Choir,” a powerful documentary about music in the prison system at the Human Rights Film festival. Copies of “The Choir” were given to LEAP to be screened at all three schools, in the community and at Realistic. “Favela Rising” to be screened at LEAP schools.

Cross Cultural Exchange. Bridging and connection between the LEAP learner communities, through video interviews of students in South Africa and students in the US to compare and contrast answers and implementing pen pal programs.