Rutgers SPAA Exchanges Best Practices for After School Programs with South African Delegation
On Oct. 25, SPAA hosted a delegation of nine South African after school practitioners for a day of exploration and knowledge exchange. The day consisted of morning discussions with U.S. after school practitioners around closing the educational gap and an afternoon of site visits with SPAA community partners.
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Practitioners shared how their programs engaged local youth, which included artistic, athletic, academic, and multi-pronged offerings. A common theme among programs was a dedication to transforming the lives of the young people they served. Practitioners examined the challenges associated with serving a vulnerable population and the skills needed to do so successfully. Discussions revealed that there were more similarities than differences between U.S. and South African youth, and the group exchanged best practices and opportunities to enhance the effectiveness of their programs.
The South African practitioners wrapped up the day with Newark area site visits to the New Jersey Performing Arts Center (NJPAC), Students2Science, and the Lights On Program at West Side High School. At each site, they had a chance to interact with staff and youth to see what makes after school programs in the area successful.