SKI Charities

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December 15, 2021 by SKIC | No Comments

How to Keep Students Engaged Over the Holiday Break

At SKI Charities, we believe that education doesn’t stop when students leave school—that’s why when selecting our scholarship recipients, we take into consideration the support that these scholars will receive from their families at home.

And while the end-of-year holiday school break should be a time where kids can have fun, spend time with family and rest, that doesn’t have to mean that they can’t keep learning during those weeks when they’re off from school—in fact, keeping kids engaged with their studies at home (in fun ways!) can set them up for success in the new year.

Here are some ideas for busy parents to bring learning into the holiday season at home:

A SKI Charities scholar with her parents.

Play an educational game.

Family game night doesn’t have to be all about the competition. There are many board games for kids of all ages that incorporate addition and subtraction, matching, trivia and much more. Even if a brand new board game isn’t in the budget, a simple deck of cards can be used for countless games, such as the classic Go Fish.

Bring math into the kitchen.

Have favorite family holiday recipes? Let your kids in on the action, and use it as an opportunity to teach some math skills. Younger children might enjoy counting the number of cups of water or scoops of flour, while older ones can practice conversions and fractions.

Encourage reading for fun. 

The holiday break is a great time to dive into a book, whether one that was a recent gift or one that’s long been neglected on the bookshelf. Let children decide what to read to help encourage a love of reading. 

Get into nature.

Use the extra unstructured time around the holidays to take a walk or hike, and talk about what you see. It could be a biology lesson, talking about which trees still have leaves or identifying birds, or even a counting exercise, keeping track of how many big rocks you pass.

Introduce a craft project.

No matter what holiday you celebrate, the internet is full of ideas for age-appropriate holiday crafts. Getting children crafting can spark creativity, teach important cutting and glueing skills, and give them an opportunity to practice following directions. 

Don’t forget about homework.

Kids may have homework assigned over the holidays, or prep work for the new semester to complete before school starts again. Help them stay organized and accountable so they don’t leave all their work until New Year’s Day.

Categories : SKICharities, SKIpgo
April 10, 2020 by SKIC | 1 Comment

5 Ways Schools Can Better Support Single Parents & Their Kids

Here at SKI Charities, we provide scholarships to young girls in Mutare, Zimbabwe, to ensure they can receive the education they deserve. Recently, we’ve shifted to focusing primarily on scholars from single-family homes, who face particular challenges when it comes to receiving a quality education.

Just like children depend on their parents to support their education at home, schools need to be sure that they are supporting single parents and their children. We rounded up five ways that schools can better act as a support system for single-parent homes:

1. Communicate with students and recognize their individual needs.

It’s important that teachers open up lines of communication with children coming from single family homes, and to not make assumptions, because every situation is different. Children of single parents, especially low-income ones, may have unique stressors placed on them. For example, they may be taking on additional responsibilities at home such as taking care of younger siblings, cleaning or running household errands. In addition, they may be experiencing isolation and loneliness if their parent is busy working and they frequently come home to an empty house after school. Be in communication with each child about their emotional needs, not just their academic needs. Having this additional support from a trustworthy adult can positively impact a child for a lifetime.

2. Send home a to-do list for homework and a schedule of events.

While every guardian has a lot on their plate, single parents can get especially overwhelmed with working to support a household all on their own. Homework and projects may fall by the wayside if information gets lost. Providing a concrete to-do list with homework activities and deadlines can make a huge difference for single-family homes. Teachers should make sure parents and students are aware of scheduled events and project deadlines well ahead of time. Last minute scheduling or late notice should be avoided whenever possible. This kind of effort on the teacher’s part can help things run more smoothly for single-parent families both in the classroom and at home.

3. Make space for teaching about non-traditional family structures.

As a society we are often subjected to negative stereotypes about single parents and cultural messages about the importance of two-family households. It is unfortunately commonplace for teachers to hold lessons or events that reinforce positive associations only with traditional family structures. For children from single parent or otherwise non-traditional families, this can
make them feel isolated, embarrassed or ashamed. Instead of holding activities that are specific to having a mom, a dad, or two parents present, teach students about different family structures and make sure everyone can participate fully. Teachers can do this in the form of reading books about different family structures, centering lessons around difference and creating a classroom culture in which students celebrate family diversity.

4. Help parents stay informed and connected to their school.

It’s important for schools to stay in touch with parents and make accommodations to help them remain connected and involved. At the beginning of each school year, teachers can call parents to form a relationship with them. They can continue to use phone calls not just to reach out when their child is in trouble, but also to share good news and celebrate accomplishments on behalf of the child.

When sending home written notices, teachers should make sure to use single-parent friendly language such as “Dear Guardian” rather than “Dear Mom and Dad.” If a parent is unable to meet in person for a PTA meeting, schools can provide jobs that single parents can do at home to stay involved, like making phone calls, stuffing envelopes, sending emails, creating newsletters or filing orders online. Taking these measures can help single parents feel more at ease and included while navigating school culture.

5. Be flexible.

When planning school functions, be considerate of single working parents who don’t have the support of a partner or family member. Be flexible with meeting times, and consider opening up times during non-work hours. If your school is able to, it is helpful to provide childcare at school functions for younger siblings so a parent doesn’t have to worry about getting a babysitter in order to  attend. In addition, schools can make children feel like they can participate in events without their parents by pairing up unattended children with teachers and staff so that everyone has an adult by their side to support them.

Overall, flexibility is key to accommodating single families and meeting individual family needs.

Categories : SKICharities, SKIpgo
July 20, 2019 by SKIC | No Comments

Why Vaccination Is Key to Our Education Efforts in Zimbabwe

Though our primary focus is economic empowerment and early childhood education, we are invested in the greater prosperity of the communities we serve. Sometimes that means broadening our reach to tackle some of the other challenges Zimbabweans have been facing due to the economic crisis the country is experiencing. 

“Historically, Zimbabwe has had a very strong healthcare system,” says our founder, Shyam K. Iyer. “It’s common for children to be vaccinated. But due to the current lack of local currency and exports, the country needs to import medicine and it is expensive. They don’t get much help from other countries and big institutions because of the country’s politics.”

Because of this, it has become difficult for Zimbabweans to obtain the vaccinations they need. Combined with the other issues posed by the economic climate, risk of illness is high. “Cholera is a recent issue because of the lack of public services along with the overcrowding and lack of food hygiene,” says Shyam. “We lost a SKIPGO scholar to malaria, which weighs heavy on us.”

To help with this mounting health crisis, SKIPGO has been working with the Early Learning Center, where many of our scholars attend, to help ensure that they are vaccinated and to assist in this process however possible. “The parents are very positive and open to vaccination,” our founder says. “Sometimes they bemoan having to wait for services due to the region’s hardships, but they’re completely aligned in the effort to increase vaccination rates.”

And for children especially, these vaccinations are absolutely vital. “They run, play, explore and interact closely with each other,” he says. “At home there are often small infants who cannot be vaccinated. Vaccinating the school-aged children protects them as well as others around them.”

Categories : SKICharities, SKIpgo
March 21, 2019 by SKIC | No Comments

How We Choose Our Scholarship Recipients

In order to maximize our impact as an organization, we give early-stage scholarships to girls between the ages of four and five in and around Mutare, Zimbabwe. We believe that the earlier we can jumpstart a child’s education, the more successful they will be.

But when you’re working with such young children, how do you decide who will receive a scholarship? Here’s how we determine eligibility and assess who will benefit most from our SKIPGO program:

How We Find Scholars

Our local team assembles a short-list of candidates before the beginning of each school year. They speak with schools, community leaders and local institutions such as churches to learn about girls who might be a fit for the program.

What We Look For

As most our candidates are very young, we often look to their guardians to assess their level of commitment to education and opportunity for women to ensure that they will be supportive of their daughter’s academic work.

We also look at their financial need, as we try to choose scholars whose lives we can add the most opportunity to. We speak to community references, and study the child’s fit at their school of potential enrollment. “As time has passed, we have put more of a focus on candidates from more challenging backgrounds,” says SKIC’s founder, Shyam K. Iyer. For example, in our newest class of scholars, four of the girls are being raised by single mothers, and one by a single grandmother.

“At such an early age of matriculation it is difficult to determine academic potential,” Shyam admits. “However we have always believed in the Zimbabwean proverb that ‘the tree bends when it is youngest.’ “

 

Categories : SKIpgo
January 17, 2019 by SKIC | No Comments

8 Ways Parents Can Support Their Child’s Education at Home

Two of our SKIpgo scholars with their families.

When we’re choosing girls to participate in our scholarship program, one of the most important factors we look for is their guardians’ commitment to education. We seek out parents and grandparents who will not only support their child as they begin their journey in education, but will go the extra mile by supplementing that education at home.

Not sure how to do this? Here are some tips:

1. Point out words in your everyday surroundings, and ask your child to spell them out.

2. Ask your child’s teacher for resources you can use at home.

3. Give your child independent tasks to grow their confidence; resist fixing their mistakes.

4. Get involved in your child’s school when you can, whether than means volunteering in the classroom or attending school events.

5. Use humor and fun voices to make reading aloud together a special experience.

6. Know when to quit. If your child is no longer enjoying a home learning experience, stop and try again another day.

7. Make a point to ask your child about their school day every day, so they learn that education is important to you. If they know you take it seriously, they’ll take it seriously, too.

8. Encourage free play! Having unstructured time to play is essential in your child’s development and will help them learn better.

Categories : SKICharities, SKIpgo
July 19, 2018 by SKIC | 1 Comment

How Our Programs Help Single Mothers

There’s a lot of stigma around single motherhood—after all, many mothers today choose to raise children on their own. And in the U.S. studies show that children raised by single mothers aren’t necessarily at a disadvantage to children from homes with two parents.

Waiting in line for cash. Photo by Tendai Marima via The World Post.

But in Zimbabwe, where there’s an ongoing economic crisis, the financial hardship that most single mothers face can’t be ignored. The country has an extreme cash shortage, and many women spend hours each week waiting to get cash from the bank. For single mothers, this poses a particular challenge—not to mention the cost of raising children on a single income and the scarcity of jobs overall. (Of course, in Zimbabwe it’s more common than in America to live with extended family members.)

Single mothers in Zimbabwe face challenges both in their careers and in providing education for their children. And though none of our programs are aimed specifically at single mothers, both our microfinance and scholarship work helps empower women in this situation.

When the burden of childcare falls on a single parent, it can be difficult for that parent to have time to pursue a full-time career, particularly if they can’t afford to hire outside childcare help. By providing microloans to women in Zimbabwe and Chile, we give them the opportunity to build a career on their own terms and on their own schedule.

Managing the costs associated with education is a problem for many families in Zimbabwe; single-parent families face an even tougher burden. That’s why our scholarship program identifies girls at a young age, and provides all costs associated with their education. Right now, two of our scholars come from single-mother homes, and six of our veterans do. (One current scholar comes from a single-grandmother home.)

Single mothers deserve the same opportunities as everyone else—as do their children. We’re proud to do work that helps give them those opportunities.

Categories : SKICharities, SKILLS, SKImfi, SKIpgo
April 3, 2018 by SKIC | No Comments

Free to Play, Free to Learn

Part of what makes our scholarship program in Zimbabwe so successful is the quality of the schools we partner with. Without them, we couldn’t give our young scholars the education they deserve. We’re especially grateful that, like us, these schools believe that in addition to learning in the classroom, children need time to play.

In addition to free play, at the schools where our scholars attend, students have the opportunity to do gymnastics, tennis, swimming, jungle gym and other sports. On special occasions they get especially fun activities, like horseback riding. Experts believe that both free play and structured physical activity are essential to development, and have academic, social and physical benefits.

Having time to play makes students more focused and well-behaved once they get back to the classroom. Free play improves their social skills, allowing them opportunities to solve problems, resolve conflicts and structure play on their own terms. Physical activity is also thought to reduce anxiety in children.

Not to mention the health benefits: Recess helps students maintain a healthy weight, build stronger muscles and bones, and strengthen their bodies’ ability to fight off diseases and infections. Plus, students who get to play before lunch are more likely to eat fruits and veggies and finish their whole meals.

Playtime also gives students something to look forward to—and it’s fun! It’s true what they say: work hard, play hard.

Categories : SKICharities, SKIpgo
September 29, 2017 by SKIC | No Comments

Bend the Tree While It’s Still Young

When many people think of scholarships, they imagine older students who’ve already proven themselves to be academically inclined. So we’re often asked why our SKIPGO program targets three to five year old girls. We’ve written about why we’ve chosen to give early-stage scholarships before—but we can’t reiterate enough why it’s important to “bend the tree while it’s still young.”

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One of our SKIPGO scholars

The answer comes down to impact, and our desire to make the biggest, most lasting difference on both the students we’re helping to educate and the communities around them. Elizabeth Mateko, who manages our SKIPGO program in Zimbabwe, explains this tree metaphor: “Until they’re about seven years of age, children receive what is imparted on them. It’s the age when children get their foundation. As a tree grows it starts with roots. These roots form the strength or weakness of the tree. As the tree grows it get its food from the roots. Therefore as the child grows she gets her character from early childhood teachings.”

Research shows that it’s true that educating children at a young age has the most impact on their lives. Report after report—like the famous 1988 Perry Preschool Program study—demonstrate that students who partake in early childhood education tend to have greater success in future educational endeavors, early more money and commit fewer crimes. And perhaps even more importantly, as demonstrated by a 1990 study about Head Start programs along with other research, early-childhood education is shown to give students the social skills that will serve them all throughout their lives.

Our teachers on the ground in Zimbabwe also have ideas about why early childhood education is so important: “We impact students at an early age to prepare them for formal learning,” says Mrs. Chigumira, a teacher at Manicaland School where our scholar Stacey goes to school. “The children master basic skills and develop fine and gross motor skills. Children learn critical thinking and problem solving skills.”

Candice, first grade

Candice, who is now in second grade

Elizabeth adds: “Elementary education instills the importance of education in a child. It makes it easier for the student in more advanced learning. They will be able to make wise decisions in the future.”

Part of early childhood education’s impact comes down to pure common sense. The younger a student is when they begin their education, the less catching up they have to do later on. This concept is also backed by research: In James Heckman’s 2006 Science article, he shows how attempts to make up for educational deficits grow more expensive and less effective as a person grows older. As Elizabeth puts it: “Early childhood teachings hold longer than teaching at an older age. Hence the saying that you can’t teach an old dog new tricks. One has to catch them young.”

It also benefits communities at large to educate children at an early age. Heckman’s research shows that investing in early childhood education produces up to a 10% return by reducing costs like remedial education, health and criminal justice expenses.

Ultimately, the younger students are when they begin their education, the longer time they have to make use of that education and continue learning, growing, and contributing to society.

 

Categories : SKIpgo
March 6, 2017 by SKIC | No Comments

3 SKIPGO Parents on How Education is Transforming Their Daughters

In Mutare, Zimbabwe, our SKIPGO program is providing motivated, promising young girls with the education they deserve. But how do we identify girls who will benefit most from a quality education at such a young age? One way is by finding families who are as equally committed to education as we are. We asked three SKIPGO parents how they’ve seen their daughters grow since they began the program, and where they hope to see their daughters in the future:

 

What SKIPGO has done for their daughters:

Candice, first grade

Candice, who is now in first grade.

“She has improved in many ways. We can now have a good English conversation, she can do puzzles, her eating habits have changed and she now knows she has to brush her teeth every morning.”— Candice’s father, Trymore

“The SKIPGO program is more than a brilliant idea. My daughter has developed psychological, mentally and physically within a very short period of time. It was such a good foundation for her and she is promising to be a star, I tell you.”— Stacey’s mother, Rita

“Tinevimbo has really changed since she joined the SKIPGO program. Her language development has improved greatly and she conducts well with her peers.”— Tinevimbo’s mom, Samantha

Where they see their daughters in the future:

“Good education is what l dream for her. I can imagine my girl at one of the best secondary schools doing her best. I think providing a good education for my daughter is the best help SKIC can give to achieve this future.”— Candice’s dad, Trymore

Stacey D

Stacey

“I have always had big dreams for my daughter but I was afraid I could never achieve it due to my limited resources. But now I’m foreseeing my dreams coming true. Equipping my daughter with the best possible education ever was always my dream. I foresee a brilliant, confident, intelligent girl excelling in her studies, showing that girls can achieve even more than boys when fully supported and given all the necessary resources.”— Stacey’s mom, Rita

“The dreams that I have for her are that she may be able to complete her studies till university level and be able to give back to the program—for instance by assisting other kids.”— Tinevimbo’s mom, Samantha

Tinevimbo

Tinevimbo

Why it’s essential to educate girls:

“SKIC is financially aiding my daughter in all her educational requirements, which was going to be very difficult for me considering that our society looks down on girls. I happen to be a mother of two girls and culturally our African husbands will be reluctant to support girls as much as they would if it was a boy. When you educate a woman, you have educated the world because generally women are responsible and can easily pass what they have learned to the world.”— Stacey’s mom, Rita

“Women play a big role in the society, though they do not get enough chances as compared to men. Women give back their achievements to society.”— Tinevimbo’s mom, Samantha

Categories : SKIpgo
September 14, 2016 by SKIC | No Comments

How We Narrow Our Approach to Maximize Our Impact

Beneficiaries in Mutare, Zimbabwe

Beneficiaries in Mutare, Zimbabwe

“Less is more” is one of those oft-repeated sayings that, well, can get old. It’s trite, simple, and something we’ve all heard on countless occasions. It feels silly sometimes to bring up in conversation – but it’s often wildly true and important to keep in mind in both our personal and professional lives.

When SKI Charities was in its nascent stages, it was critical that founder Shyam K. Iyer remind himself of the “less is more” adage. When the organization began, Shyam had to ask himself certain questions in order to narrow the scope of his project and remain focused. There are people everywhere, in every city and town across the globe, who could benefit from the types of programming that SKIC provides. As much as a business or organization may want to “do it all,” specialization and focus is essential to maximizing one’s impact. Trying to do more often winds up with watered down results or growing too fast for one’s resources.

Shyam knew that he had to target one or just a few specific locations, and specific demographics of people within those locales. What began as a desire to help the world ended up turning into focused attention on women and young girls in Lebu, Chile and Mutare, Zimbabwe. “We want to, through the fewest touch points, reach as many socially constructive areas as possible,” Shyam says. Here’s how SKIC does it:

How SKIC Maximizes Its Impact:

  • SKIC was brought to very deliberately chosen locations, where supply does not meet the demand. Shyam reasoned that, in a place like India for example, there are far more micro-finance organizations and charities available to the disenfranchised. When Shyam first began SKIC in Zimbabwe in 2010, nobody else was doing what SKIC was doing. The organization remains one of the few if only organizations that caters to Zimbabwean entrepreneurial spirit and pride by utilizing micro-finance loans.
  • SKIC focuses on women. Shyam has been asked many times, “why not men too?” He reasons that in general, and in the countries that SKIC is present, women are more disenfranchised and marginalized than men. Women have always been lower on the totem pole – “it’s time to level the playing field,” Shyam affirms. Despite their lower status, women have proven to invest more in their community with the money that they do make. “A woman will first grow her business, which will then hire more people, which will support more suppliers and provide more jobs in the community. When she makes money, she will put her kids back in school, which of course increases the education of a community, a crucial component to the wellbeing of a society. She will herself become more respected and become a leader in her community. She will become a role model for younger women, which will result in a ripple effect with even more people,” Shyam contends. “The spillover effect is strong with women, the money goes further.”
  • In the charity’s SKIpgo program, Shyam chooses to focus on girls ages 3 to 5. He notes, “Early stage learning is the most important because it’s where you can make the greatest impact on a girls’ life, for the rest of her career. With girls this age we can teach them even the simplest things like hygiene, respect for themselves, respect for each other. The schools we place them in are not just about teaching them English or history or math. It’s about teaching them how to be strong, independent women. And if they grow up with that idea, if we engrain it in them from the very beginning, they’ll absorb it and live it and be able to reverse some of the gender dynamics that are so rampant in our world.” Though the charity hates to have to say no to teenagers, Shyam reasons that “we want to start at the very beginning. It’s important to start the education process in the most impressionable stages of growth and learning.”
  • SKIpgo selects girls who have positive familial environments within which they have a greater chance of being supported in their education and actually excelling in the program. Shyam and his on-the-ground team work to find the best possible candidates for the SKIpgo program. These are girls who come from financially needy families, but also families that value education and will encourage their girls’ studies. These are the children who are most likely to excel in the program, and as they age, share their knowledge with peers and their own families.

The desire to “help the world” and to make it a better place is one that many people feel deep within their core. What’s most intimidating about confronting this desire is where to begin. Non-profit and micro-finance work inhabit a large landscape with many avenues to pursue. It may feel counterintuitive to narrow the scope of one’s focus, but really, it is the path toward positively and maximally affecting a group of people, no matter how small the group is. We’ll leave you with another trite adage worth thinking about, and one that SKIC stands by: “Quality over quantity.”

Categories : Company Organization, SKICharities, SKImfi, SKIpgo
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