After a gruelling five-hour traffic jam (during which a three lane highway was temporarily transformed into six lanes) had caused us to miss our plane, we managed to catch our connecting flight to Europe in the nick of time. We arrived some thirty hours later in our blue house, with our own bed, our stuff, on our street.
What have we been up to
Over the last few weeks Gigi and I have extensively briefed Bobbi Bear staff, its director and part of their Board. They were very pleased with the results that our research has had. The research aim to see whether or not the EduToy is applicable, effective and if there is a desire for the tool has been met. In the results that will be published over the next few weeks, all research queries can be answered with a wholehearted “Yes”.
- “Yes”, the EduToy is applicable in other African countries (and cultures) than South Africa. Because the EduToy facilitates a dialogue between the presenter(s) and student(s) and refrains from dictating the conversation subject, students are invited to talk about what’s on their minds. As the students are living part of their culture, the EduToy with its open structure amends, and is therefore applicable.
- “Yes”, the EduToy is effective. We wanted to research if the knowledge on HIV/Aids had improved after the presentation. A significant number of pupils who filled in our questionnaires stated they learned something new (e.g. PEP as new information). We also wanted to see if the EduToy uncovered cases of abuse. As stated in our previous blogposts it does.
- “Yes”, there is a need for the EduToy. Not only from the involved NGO’s, but also from schools, Victim Support Units and NGO’s that did not take part in the research. The tools they currently employ do not address abuse on a larger scale or as effective as the EduToy.
Suffice to say, that the three conclusions given above are based on a first analysis of the data. In the forthcoming report all data and the complete analysis leading to the conclusions are given.
What’s next
Hope Humana
In the following weeks the three statements above will be proven in a report that will be (partly) published on this site. The complete report will be shared with all in the research involved parties. We will also write a separate advisory report that will describe a few possible scenarios for implementation of the EduToy in other countries with other NGO’s. Bobbi Bear will contemplate this advice. After that further steps will be discussed in order to write a program that will bring the EduToy to other places.
Thank You
We would like to thank all parties involved in this research.
- Our partner NGO’s for their time, warmth, energy, expertise and their fight for children’s rights;
- The schools for the presentation that was held on their premises, their plight and concern for their students;
- The police for their cooperation and follow-ups of cases;
- Social Welfare for sharing their knowledge;
- Other NGO’s for their time and mutual care for children’s rights;
- And all others such as: campsite owners, people we met, listeners, advice givers and followers.
Thank You,
Dank u,
Zikomo kwambili,
Twatotela,
Yewo chomene,
Siyabonga,
Geartsje (Gigi) & Dennis.
Nissan Patrol "Robbie"
edutoy 