LEARNING AND EDUCATION- is it the same thing?

Well that may be a little complex because at the end of it, this all boils down to education right, of cause it does. But now the difference in my own understanding is how the antidote is administered.

But wait a minute, what does Mr GOOGLE have to say about this?

"In simple terms: Learning is a lifelong process of transforming information and experience into knowledge, skills, and behaviors. On the other hand, education is just one approach to learning. It's a process where a society passes on the knowledge, values, and skills from one generation to another" source GOOGLE"

I cant argue that statement I must say, it is true. But what approach do you think is much more engaging? So many questions today i must say but luckily I have some answers. LEARNING is fun and we do that through experience.

Let me tell you a little story, So in 2009 I stated this organization I REACH OUT MY HAND AFRICA and through the years I have taught, served, impacted and learnt from my beneficiaries, friends and so fourth, did you get that part? I LEARNT, now that was simple not being educated, and I recall vividly what i learnt and even the location. This is because learning is not a one size fits all approach because everyone has certain knowledge that if we compile together we become more aware and informed.

I don't really want to make this a long blog because I am itching to get to the point you see, So while working and offering accommodation services back in the outskirts of Harare to the youth Covid happened and as a man who has served the community through part time jobs everything went to the dogs and I had to cut down on the number of beneficiaries.

The situation was really bad that I remembered i had a small undeveloped piece of land right in the rural Selous about 82kms from Harare.

Was it a blessing in disguise, yes i must say. Just a month down before this pandemic hit, I for no reason started buying cements and by the time my funds ran low i had 13 bags in the rented house which where just sitting there and had no plans for them. Now that's when I realized, hey I can go at the farm and start on a new block.

Fast forward I moved with the help of a friend and we started making thumb brick and 31 days later a house was standing, without much money left I stayed in the house without a front door and mission windows, sounds like fairy tale but its not haha. 

Now lets get to why its a blessing in disguise, GRASSROOTS activities have always been the center of my life and while making my little bush home habitable I realized about 25 children where not in school and had no privileges' whatsoever to get into mainstream education, some girls to date have been forced into child marriages, both boys and girls also work in the fields so they can earn a little food. Child-headed families have become the order of the day.

So to fix that, 2020 i attempted on a learning experience approach because it seemed i was now talking to children who have evolved so fast into adulthood because of their situations. I said let's bring back their childhood.

Main stream education is of cause really important but we have to add a little fun through experiential learning

Right now the children can read and write without difficulty, oh before I forget, We have career guidance classes, and now I know we hear about this but it's never really much of a highlight. Here at Paarl Farm, we highlight that and even address each other with the future job titles to make it a fun moment.

We have Social workers, doctors, pilots, teachers, and more, and all that we invite industry expects to come and give the children a treat. They get to see what their career choice holds, now isn't that a real dish?

Right now we are excited about the next visit from Flight Wings Aviation -www.flightwingsaviationglobal.com who are coming to take our little aspiring pilots for a treat into the world of aviation. Who said we can't do this at the farm, we sure can.

So are you already seeing that learning in education is loads of fun?

The learning center is getting better and better and we can foresee a big transformation in our remote areas.

Written by: Tyrone Havnar