The Foundation hosted its fourteenth Back to School Party on 19 November 2022, at the Deck, in Illovo. The party came at a time when Adopt-a-School Foundation and its Chairperson, President Cyril Ramaphosa celebrated key milestones. The Foundation celebrates 20 years of improving education delivery to marginalised communities and the President celebrated his 70th birthday. The event showcased the Foundation’s journey over the last 20 years to over 800 loyal Adopt-a-School supporters, corporate executives and captains of the industry representing 68 companies, all dressed in school uniforms and sporting gear.
The highly anticipated event on the philanthropic calendar was themed Celebrating 20 Years of Changing Schools, Changing Lives. The event was proudly sponsored by Optasia, a global fintech company whose aim is to build financial inclusion for all.
The event began with a stirring, appropriate rendition of We Will Rise by the Ndlovu Youth Choir. Followed by the Goliath brothers, Donavan and Nicholas, who were the Masters of Ceremony alongside junior learner MCs Mashawa Mamolebatsi and Tsholofelo Chopo. The learners are Grade 7 learners from Qhobosheane Secondary School, a school adopted by the Foundation. Keeping with the school theme, corporate sponsors who have attended the fundraising event over the last 14 years were acknowledged, thanked and presented with certificates, white blazers and achievement scrolls as an honour to their commitment towards education and the Foundation.
The event also incorporated the Adopt-a-School Foundation National School Awards, which supports the excellence and achievement of our schools, their Principals, educators and learners. Diepsloot Combined School shone brightly, winning two of the many prestigious awards handed out to schools. Headmaster of Diepsloot Combined School, Mr Niketani Noel Maringa, stepped up to collect the award for Best Performing School. His school achieved an overall matric result of 90 – 100%, with over 40% of learners achieving university exemptions and bachelor passes. The school has also demonstrated exceptional skills and knowledge in improving effective teaching, learning and organisational effectiveness. Mr Maringa was called to the stage for the second time to receive the Most Sustainable School Award for consistently delivering a 90 – 100% pass rate over the last three years. Diepsloot Combined exhibited exemplary leadership in the implementation of Whole School Development.
The guests were addressed by the AAS Chairperson, President Cyril Ramaphosa on the strides taken by the Foundation on its 20-year journey. Further, the Ndlovu Youth Choir led a happy birthday song for the Chairperson and concluded with a balloon drop. As usual, some guests purchased blazers from the Foundation, which will be donated to Kgabareng Secondary School in Free state.
We are proud to announce that, on this one night, over R 4,9 million was raised to support the work of the Foundation.
Thank you to all those who attended; we are immensely grateful for your support.
