Homework assistance with sports strengthens students
At the student café in Frölundaskolan, young people gather around tables, pulling out their homework. Aya Haj Mustafa, a homework helper and a student at the University of Gothenburg, approaches one of the tables and starts answering questions. It’s Wednesday afternoon, and the weekly homework help session of the Street Games Academy project has just begun.
"I’ve always wanted to help others and work with young people," says Aya Haj Mustafa, who has been studying in the dentistry programme since the spring term of 2022.
During her second term, she became one of the university's student ambassadors. Her role includes attending student fairs and visiting classes.
"It’s interesting and fun to guide high school students. Then I became interested in the opportunity to be a homework helper as well, and now I’m here at Frölundaskolan, where I’ve previously worked as a substitute teacher."
Sports as a path to study motivation
The concept behind Street Games Academy is to use young people’s interest in sports to encourage them to become more motivated in their studies and improve their academic performance. The aim is also to build connections between young people from disadvantaged areas and university students, making higher education feel like a natural option for their future.
"It’s great to come here when you can’t get help at home, like when your parents are working. Then we play basketball afterwards," says Filip Jelacic, a sixth grader working on his maths homework.
His classmate Shukri Mahamud agrees, expressing her appreciation for the tutors.
"They explain things in a fun way. You learn a lot here, and your maths homework turns out right," she says.
Works well but can be challenging
A while later, Ahmad Haddad, a leader at Högsbo Basket, enters the room and sits at one of the tables. He is in his final year of high school, and believes the project works well.
"This is my third year being involved, and it feels good to be able to help. Both with the homework and the basketball afterwards. I want to make a difference."
It’s a sentiment shared by Aya Haj Mustafa.
"It’s a valuable experience to be here. It makes me happy when I can help young people. At the same time, it can be challenging, but it gets easier as you get to know them," she says.
Nehman Ahmadzie, another sixth grader, often works on his maths homework at these sessions and is happy with the homework helpers’ support.
"They gave me a great solution, and then it came up on the test. I got 30 out of 30," he says.
Wants to help students grow
Also present in the student café is social pedagogue Johanna Corneliusson, who recalls how difficult it was initially to get students to attend. That’s no longer the case.
"It has spread. Today, for example, about 20 young people are here. It’s becoming more and more effective. The students are growing," she says.
And helping students grow is precisely the goal for homework helper and university student Aya Haj Mustafa.
"I want to help students believe in themselves, to see that they can pursue higher education," she says.
By: Thomas Melin
The project Street Games Academy is a collaboration between the Västra Götaland Sports Association and a number of sports clubs, universities and colleges in Västra Götaland. Within the project, young people get help with their school assignments at least two hours each week (before training in their sports club) from students who have received specific training in supplemental instruction. Students from the University of Gothenburg offer homework help in Angered, Frölunda, and Hisingen. In connection with this homework help, the young people also get a healthy snack and information about the importance of a good diet.
Read more on Västra Götaland Sport Association's web page: Street Games Academy