Investing over 1.2 billion rands through the support of its donors and partners, benefitting over one point six million learners through various programmes of Whole School Development.
In 2001, Stella Nemkula (former Principal of Tshilidzi Primary School) contacted one of her former pupils for help; the school desperately needed a fax machine. That pupil was Cyril Ramaphosa. Upon returning to his school, he found the school in a dilapidated state, with the need far more significant than a fax machine. Realising the importance of active citizenship and corporate investment, Ramaphosa, alongside Dr James Motlatsi, Donne Nicol and other concerned individuals, began planting the seed of the Adopt-a-School Foundation.
Adopt-a-School believes that resources for learning are of utmost importance, but so is the holistic upliftment of the school, its staff and the surrounding community. Since 2002, the Adopt-a-School Foundation has impacted millions of lives by implementing its Whole School Development model. The model comprises four pillars that focus on building new schools and classrooms, skills and leadership development, provision of resources, social welfare, support to small businesses and the creation of temporary jobs.
Adopt-a-School Foundation provides all-encompassing sustainable growth through Whole-School Development within the schools. Through leadership development programmes and encouraging sound governance policies, all involved witness the immediate changes within the schools. Curriculum development programmes have been implemented to assist the teachers, allowing for expansion in knowledge, teaching methodologies, and guidance regarding curricula, school safety, and security protocols. This ensures that teachers can achieve lesson requirements and engage with their pupils while leading them through the journey of education.
Infrastructure development and upgrading of facilities ensure that spaces of safety and learning are available to our school communities, delivering pride from the Principal, the teachers, the staff, and every pupil at that school. With so many schools needing new classrooms, sports facilities, libraries, laboratories and ICT centres, it is easy to understand why morale at a school is lifted when these facilities are brought in, and children can explore all avenues of their education. This upliftment ripples through the community. It starts with the community members who are employed and upskilled as construction workers of these facilities. With children getting excited about going to school, teachers can share their knowledge while educating the future of South Africa. As a result, parents know that their children are in the best possible place for them.
Additional support programmes have been and continue to be implemented, offering assistance to learners regarding mathematics, languages, science, social sciences, ICT, social welfare, and so much more. Learners are gaining educational ground and overcoming hurdles with the help of their teachers and elders. A safe and encouraging learning environment is not only crucial to education, but it is also a vital part of a child’s day-to-day personal development. Children who feel they can approach their education with an open mind also tend to thrive and excel, which we aim for.
By re-evaluating and updating the school curriculum to suit the needs of the learners, schools are experiencing an improvement in grades and attendance. Pupils with a positive approach to their education thrive and, in turn, share their knowledge with their peers. In turn, children begin to impact their community at school and within their neighbourhood. This sense of belonging allows for positive growth and unlocking potential.
When communities stand together and reach out to assist those in their reach, they don’t just change their own lives; they change the lives of those around them. This is the core driving force and the mission of Adopt-a-School and our benefactors. To date, the Foundation has invested over R1 billion rand through the support of its donors, benefitting over one million beneficiaries through various programmes of Whole School Development. This includes over 650 schools being adopted, over 1 600 000 learners reached, over 33 800 educators developed in leadership and curriculum development, 750 facilities constructed with over 15 000 temporary jobs created 2 500 SMMEs and 19 400 learners benefitting from health and sanitation programmes.
