29 Jan About Our Mentors
The most striking impression the researchers were left with after completion of this exercise was the overwhelming positive sentiment and rating that all respondents expressed regarding MathMoms. This referred to both the presence and influence of MathMoms within the respective schools and especially the impact of this initiative and intervention on all the beneficiaries, both those central to its focus as well as those on the periphery.
The MathMoms intervention has a beneficial impact on four groups of beneficiaries. These groups are (i) the school learner, (ii) the MathMoms, (iii) the MathMentors, and (iv) the mathematics teachers. The research findings show the impact of the programme on the beneficiaries to manifest on two levels, of which impact on the emotional level is the most pronounced. The second level of impact involves knowledge/skills building and strengthening […].
Again the personal impact of this intervention is the most telling for [the MathMentors]. One MathMentor described the impact MathMoms has on her as follows: “Dit gee my ‘n doel in my lewe. ‘n Rede om op te staan. Ons maak definitief ‘n verskil in die kind se lewe.” (“It gives me purpose in life. A reason to get up. We definitely make a difference in the life of the child.”)
The mentors further mentioned how the training provided by MathMoms has brought a new perspective regarding teaching style. In the programme training there is strong emphasis on creating a caring and gentle style in teaching and interaction with learners.
