Sponsor a Preschool Child December 26, 2008
Posted by Andrew Barrett in : Uncategorized , add a commentHelp us close the gap early
R500 per child for a year’s learning:
Our Target:
100 impoverished preschool kids to receive:
Basic Computer Training
Elementary Numeracy
Elementary Literacy
You can sponsor a child: R500 for the year. Every child will receive a weekly computer session with a trained faciliator and practice age-appropriate literacy and numeracy excercises.
PLEASE NOTE: Our preschools programme is being re-developed.
(last updated: 15/03/10).
Siyabonga LGIT! December 2, 2008
Posted by Andrew Barrett in : Uncategorized , add a commentA BIG thank you to LGIT Smart Solutions who recently took time out from their busy work schedules to help with some much needed building renovation. Amazing what a fresh coat of paint and some TLC can do!
The LGIT team that made this possible.
We look forward now to phase 2 which is to equip this room with computers and expand Siyakhula’s educational offering to the Ivory Park community. LGIT have not only invested time and effort in Siyakhula this year but have also bought into the vision of quality education for all – we look forward with much excitment to further interaction in the year to come.
LGIT Smart Solutions is a Information Technology training provider based in Woodmead, Johannesburg and a Gold Certified Microsoft Partner. Visit LGIT’s website here.
Education or Death September 18, 2008
Posted by Andrew Barrett in : Uncategorized , add a commentNelson Mandela said: “Education is the most powerful weapon which you can use to change the world”.
The reality, however, is that in our poorer schools we are losing another generation. The post-schooling opportunities available to the majority of learners from Ebony and Ivory Park are extremely limited due to the poor performance of the schools in this area and a lack of resources, support and external assistance. This week Siyakhula delivered Micro-Science kits to two nearby high schools in an effort to help address the lack of science laboratory equipment. 6 Science teachers were trained by Radmaste (WITS) and provided with the tools for practical hands-on experimentation – the challenge is again highlighted by the fact that these 6 teachers are responsible for the science education of over 4000 learners. You do the Math.
For most of the matriculants from these schools, the post-schooling options available are almost entirely low-skills dependent. Tertiary education is extremely rare and, at best, only 5% of learners will graduate with university exemption. The overwhelming majority will not achieve the required academic standard necessary for further education and skills development and their future life and career options remain severely restricted as a result. During the dark days of Apartheid a rallying cry for the oppressed was “Freedom or Death” – freedom at the time was simply non-negotiable and there was no doubt as to its importance. Should the new rallying cry for us today be something like “Education or Death”? Surely quality education is simply non-negotiable and what can be more important? Is it not increasingly urgent that we put behind us the days of ‘liberation before education’? How do we more effectively unlock the empowering and transforming potential of ‘liberation through education’?
Siyakhula’s schools enrichment programme aims to provide youth from underperforming schools with the necessary skills and information – both academic and personal – to access further educational and/or employment opportunities and thereby transform their personal and social circumstances. Quite literally we are trying the change the world.
For a very accurate and well-written description of the state of our township and rural schools, click here. (Note the suggestions in the last paragraph)