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Orange Farm pastor helps community become literate

John Fanana is not only known as a pastor by his community members, he is also a project manager at adult literacy specialist, Media Works, with a mission to empower the community of Orange Farm.

Fanana started working for Media Works as a facilitator in 2005 and he excelled in that role with a facilitation portfolio that amounted to 210 learners. 

“Johns’ work ethic and passion in making a difference in the education sector caught our attention. As a result, in 2010 we awarded him the role of project manager and entrusted him with over 30 Adult Based Education Training programmes that stretched between Gauteng, North West and Mpumalanga,” says Jackie Carroll, CEO of Media Works.

As a member of the Orange Farm community, John recognised the great need to educate not only the youth but also the illiterate adults.
 “My motivation is God. Everything I do, I do it in a manner of knowing that I am accountable to God”, says Fanana.

Care worker Pauline Ramela is one of the many learners who were fortunate to be facilitated by John through the ABET training programme.

Ramela was already motivated and committed to learning because she had already completed an ABET facilitator course through UNISA while she was on the Media Works ABET programme.

She is grateful for the commitment and passion that Fanana expressed in getting her through the ABET levels.  She feels ABET has had a huge impact in her life because it has helped her to secure employment in her darkest hour which was when she got retrenched. She is now currently working as a care worker and got this job without any difficulty because of her communication skills acquired on her Media Works ABET training.

Fanana’s vision was put into motion in 2011 when Media Works donated their ACCELERATE learning material to the project.  The learning materials included learner workbooks and ACCELERATE learning software.This meant learners would be part of a computer-assisted learning system that includes time spent on the computer, activities done in the workbook and interactions with the facilitator taking part in smaller groups. This multi-media approach introduced learners to technology in an enjoyable, non-threatening manner and is very flexible.

The facilitator’s guide complements the computer lessons, providing them with ideas for remediation and extension to help challenge learners where necessary.  Fanana also managed to get Coca-Cola Polokwane to make a generous donation of computers and Kwik Space donated mobile homes to be used as classrooms.

“Media Works has proven to be a catalyst for change in the education fraternity with its drive to get South Africa literate.It is a vision to make a change in communities that is sustained by genuine persistence to see that change,” says  Fanana . “Learners see facilitation or teaching as a calling in assisting those that lack knowledge.”

Learner Mmputhi Verly Dyk says ABET has helped her improve her life. “ABET has had a huge impact on my life because it allowed me to pursue my dream to become a nurse.” While on the Media works ABET Program she went for an aptitude test and was successful which she wouldn’t have passed previously. She is now in her second year of training to becoming a nurse.