A state-of-the art eLearning Hub at Vergelegen wine estate in Somerset West has given learners, who live on the estate, a new source of support and inspiration with their studies.
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A cottage at Harmony Village has been freshly refurbished to incorporate 10 learning stations, seven of which have computers. Additional facilities at the spic-and-span Hub include a printer, stationery, a small kitchen to prepare hot drinks, toilets, and a small library. Teacher Kathryn Couzens is on hand every afternoon to offer support and guidance.
 The Hub was opened in September and it is currently available to grade eight to 12 learners. Eighteen of the 24 eligible learners have used the facilities to date, with eight learners visiting regularly.
 Development of the facility has been a team effort by committed members of the estate staff, with the enthusiastic support of Managing Director Wayne Coetzer. Key participants have been IT Manager Warren Daniel; Security Manager Carl Langenhoven; Finance Manager Dean Carlse; and Hospitality and HR Manager Sharon Hosking. Social Media Manager A.J. van der Vyver also offers extra maths lessons weekly.
 Says Langenhoven: âIt is important to keep the kids busy and to ensure they have the necessary resources to make more choices. We want to prepare them for adulthood and tertiary education. Our dream is to facilitate from grade R to grade 12, with the kids having the tools to get ahead and enter university.â
 Daniel, who brings facilitation skills from working at Damelin College, plus IT expertise, says the Hub is intended to bridge the gap between school and home.Â
âTech is ever-evolving, and we canât let learners fall behind. This is the starting point and it is going to develop further. The Hub lends itself to more uses in future such as adult literacy classes and holiday workshops.â
 Kathryn Couzens, who has 16 years of high school experience, says: âThe response from the children has been overwhelmingly positive, especially with the core group who attend regularly. You feel that you can make an impact by working with their strengths and weaknesses. Itâs wonderful to be able to share my experience.â
The staff say that they do not want the Hub to be a classroom environment, as the children already have this at school. Instead, children should feel comfortable and relaxed, and eager to learn new things.Â
 The children are positive about their experiences. âIt helps a lot when we studyâ and âour teacher helps us if we are strugglingâ were some of the comments from regular visitors Andrew-Lee Ninon, Natalie Lange, Miceala Jackson, and Chanelle Jonkers.
 Daniel concurred: âYou can see the spark in the childrenâs eyes.â
