• Partnering with local schools and educational institutes to provide
  the highest quality of support for students accessing the service
• Providing a safe and welcoming learning environment for students to
  access academic support
• Providing support for students aged 5-12. 

 

 Mission

The mission of the club is to provide a secure and encouraging setting in which kids can
flourish intellectually and achieve their full potential.

Aims

Our aim is to engage and build rapport with all students to ensure there is trust and a sense of belonging within all members of our community.  We also aim to engage parents and carers to build a holistic educational support for our young students.  Similarly, parent involvement helps extend teaching outside the classroom, creates a more positive experience for children and assists in confidence and interpersonal skills.

 Qualified tutors as well as volunteers pursuing education or teaching degrees in universities will work with students and parents to ensure young people are getting customised support based on their individual needs. Therefore, students will be working either individually or in groups with qualified tutors and volunteers to provide support with their schoolwork based on the regular class activities in line with curriculum as well as extracurricular activities designed to engage their learning.

 Our program also creates a pathway by continuously upskilling volunteering university students and tutors within the community to help them get the experiences they need to work in a school environment while providing high quality service for children and parents participating in the homework club program.

 As part of the Victorian Government’s African Communities Action Plan initiative, we engage with children and families from Melbourne’s African-Australian community, particularly those residing inner Western Suburbs including North Melbourne, Flemington, Kensington, Carlton, Ascot vale, Moonee Ponds and surrounding areas. We currently work with Flemington primary school and Ascot Vale West on Monday and at North Melbourne Community Centre on Thursday respectively from 3.30pm to 5.30pm.

Our target

The cohort was initially targeted at grade 3-6 students from African background, however upon receiving feedback from parents and the school the homework club is now extended to juniors (Grade 1-6). This change is in relation to the dire need to build basic foundations for students, as students in grade 4 are currently indicating reading levels at grade 1 level. These observations were drawn from pre and post reading tests to determine students reading abilities. Discussions with parents and children in the initial sessions indicated a broad area key to the success of student learning that were not previously accounted for. Thus, lesson plans and activities must be modified according to student abilities and not by year level

 Needs to address

 Somali Community Inc. has been active in our local area working on grassroot levels on various programs and activities in bettering our communities. Throughout this time, we have discovered the importance of community-based homework clubs to assist the youth and younger generations in their education. The rates of school dropout within our community are alarmingly high and through research we have identified that this comes from the lack of the foundations of a young person’s education.

Many of the youth dropping out of school have not started their educational journey in kindergarten like many of their peers. Many also do not access high quality educational programs outside of school due to the financial difficulties on their families.

The majority of our members are from low socio-economic backgrounds. Our families are also made up of 5+ children usually in single parent households. These factors contribute to the lack of support and assistance accessible by the parents which in turn prevents young people from exceling in their education.

Delivering the Homework Club

My Study Companion Homework Club (MSCHC) is an existing homework club that was funded in 2020 till now. Our programs were delivered at both Flemington Primary School and Ascot Vale West Primary.  Our program is a blended approach, we use both the classroom and outdoor, such as on the schools’ fields to run our sessions.

A glimpse into a typical day at our homework club:

As soon as the school bell rings, smiley faces eagerly wait on the field. The sport activities begin immediately after students finish their classes to provide a productive break from study.

Students then head off to the library to participate in the other parts of the program and do some extra work specially on their daily readings and math. In our sport activities we work with top trainers from Melbourne City FC community coaches who often bring prizes to motivate and reward students for their participation. Melbourne City’s primary objective was to develop and grow football programs to create positive social impact within the community. Taking advantage of these micro programs; we aim to continue to provide a fun and safe environment for primary school aged children from diverse backgrounds.

More information

My Study Homework Club provides a safe, inclusive, and culturally acceptable place for students to interact and participate in academic enrichment activities. The purpose of the club is to cater to the requirements of students who are having difficulty in their academics or do not receive adequate support from their parents at home. The club’s motto is “Enriching Your Child’s Education!”. The mission of the club is to provide a secure and encouraging setting in which kids can flourish intellectually and achieve their full potential. The purpose of the club is to assist students in enhancing their academic abilities and achieving their academic objectives. The objective of the club is to provide a setting in which children can get assistance with their schoolwork, cultivate healthy relationships with their classmates and adults, and enhance their academic abilities.

All school students are welcome to take part in the activities provided by the Homework Club. The club gets together once a week, on Tuesdays and Thursdays, from four in the afternoon until five thirty in the evening. The club gives students the opportunity to get help with their schoolwork from a teacher while they are working on it during the club. In addition, the club offers a snack as well as the possibility to engage in conversation with other students. The club is run by a group of trained tutors who are enthusiastic about assisting students in achieving their academic goals.

The My Study Homework Club exudes a kind and encouraging vibe to everyone who enters. Students are free to discuss both their failures and their triumphs within the confines of the group. The tutors create a nurturing atmosphere in which students can approach with confidence when they need assistance. The club welcomes people of all cultural backgrounds. The teaching team is aware of each student’s specific needs and is dedicated to delivering a culturally sensitive environment.

My Study Homework Club is more than just a place to obtain help with your assignments. Students will have the chance to cultivate strong relationships with their peers and adults through participation in the club. The tutors take on the role of mentors, offering students assistance and direction in their pursuit of academic excellence. Important academic skills can also be gained by participation in the club. Students gain skills in time management, being organized and completing their schoolwork through participation in the group. Also, we have a “no homework” policy on weekends. This is so students can have a break from academics and enjoy their free time. This policy helps to prevent students from feeling overwhelmed and stressed out.

The Homework Club is a valuable resource for students. This is because it provides a safe, supportive and inclusive environment for students to interact and engage in academic enrichment activities. The club also helps students develop important academic skills. If you are a student who is struggling with your academics or lack parental support at home, I encourage you to join the Homework Club. Together we can do it!

My Study Companion Project Elements

Element 1 – Safe and welcoming Environment

We aim to build a safe ad welcoming environment for participants, volunteers and parents. Students, parents and volunteers will have a common group agreement to ensure we respect and value each other’s opinion and work together to support each other on our educational goals.

We will encourage feedback from our families to continue improving our services and ensuring each student receives the best support possible. Somali Community Inc will also have a student/parent/tutor survey which will give us information on the quality of the program as well as the environment and how we are tracking.

Parents participation and involvement is vital for us in order to deliver a holistic high-quality support for students. We believe at home habits and routines play a big role in the performance of students with their education, health and wellbeing. Parents play a big role in ensuring their young people reach their potential and we aim to work closely with parents to support them and their young people in their educational goals. They will also be a vital part of our continues improvement and service delivery.

Staff and volunteers will go through an interview faze and will be screened prior to commencing.

Element 2 – High Quality Individual Support

One of the major parts of MSCHC is the student. Our aim is to engage and build rapport with students to ensure there is trust and a sense of belonging in the program. Students will be working either individually or in groups with highly qualified tutors and volunteers in order to be supported with their educational questions and projects.

We aim to also engage parents and carers to build a holistic education support for our young people. Research shows that support gained from family, teachers and after-hours study support increases students’ knowledge and participation while also improving self-confidence and engagement in education. For this reason, we aim to build a community around our young people to ensure the best quality of support. Volunteers will work with students and parents to ensure young people are getting customised support based on their individual needs.

As we work majorly with parents whose English would be their second language, MSCHC written material will be condensed and we will encourage verbal communication with parents to ensure they are aware of program rules and upcoming plans. This is an important aspect of the individual support plans provided to students to ensure the best possible outcomes for our young people.

Furthermore, within parent child communication, we aim to run basic Somali Language sessions for young people. This is because we have identified that there is an intergenerational barrier between young people and their parents. The lack of communication using a mutually spoken language has played a big role in this issue within the community. We have also identified that it is always easier to teach a young person a new language. While many parents are accessing English language classes, young people don’t have Somali language classes available to them. For the above reasons, there will be a Somali language component in MSCHC.

Element 3 – Building positive relationships

We believe that it is hard to thrive without building positive relationships. This is an element of this project that will be closely monitored to ensure participants are comfortable and are enjoying their time at MSCHC.

We aim to run meet and greet sessions regularly to encourage building relationships, getting to know everyone and for positive interactions between tutors, students and parents. Meet and greets also teach young people networking skills and builds their confidence for the outside world post schooling and through future employment opportunities.

Another way in which we aim to ensure building positive relationships is through our open-door policy. This will be communicated with all parents, students and tutors to show that we are always available to hear their concerns. This also encourages transparency as well as communication, so we build a thriving environment for all.