The Pop-up (Non)School
South Africa’s school system is one of the most unequal in the world. The impacts of apartheid still persist today, and many young people in the community do not have access to formal education. However, even for those who do have access to schools, the system is dysfunctional and literacy and numeracy are often below “standard”.
During the Covid-19 emergency, schools were closed and most young people from underprivileged background systematically excluded from keeping their learning journeys going.
In January, 2021, between the first and second lockdown, Timbuktu in the Valley responded to the education emergency in our community and launched the the Pop-up (Non)School.
The (Non)School started as a reading, writing and maths intervention but quickly grew into a wider alternative learning space. Through intergenerational classes, we offer alternative subjects that promote agency and self-determination, including permaculture, indigenous knowledge systems, robotics and STEM, and play.
Besides the structured offerings, the Pop-up(Non)School is a space to explore self-directed learning, encouraging the young people to work on their own projects while being guided and held by the community of grown-ups.
It is entirely voluntary, but in high demand among the young people. As a local contact point for parents with children out of school, we collaborate with the Department of Education and local institutions to support the families who want to reintegrate their children into the formal system.
Our African library offers a diverse collection of African stories in various languages like isiZulu, Kiswaheli, Lingala, Arabic, and isiXhosa. We are always looking for volunteers to strengthen the education program at Timbuktu in the Valley.