11 - I Am Jumping

Freedom Park Township, Johannesburg, South Africa
Walter takes a moment to jump with the more than 250 preschool students he works with through his Venture, Freedom Park Youth Class. Inspired by his own childhood struggles to become literate, Walter has brought together hundreds of high-school age mentors to teach English language basics like the alphabet, numbers, shapes and days of the week to preschool-age students using games, music, singing and dancing. He also uses the opportunity to educate the high school mentors on issues like HIV/AIDS prevention and teen pregnancy. In a South African economy that oftentimes posts unemployment rates of up to seventy percent, Walter has worked to fund his position, turning a passion for social change into a fulfilling livelihood.