Donné Nicol Executive Director, Shanduka Foundation

TRIALOGUE Making CSI Matter Conference

Tuesday 22 May 2012

Long Term Impact in School-Based Education

Background to the Adopt-a-School Foundation

AAS Foundation is a project of the Shanduka Foundation.

Established in 2002, registered Section 21 company with PBO status and an

independent board.

Works with communities, best practice NGOs, provincial and national government

and the private sector.

Invested over R65 million in education.

Adopted over 138 schools and assisted over 400 000 learners.

Created over 3000 temporary jobs and benefitted over 200 SMEs in school communities.

Model: Whole School Development which includes focused academic improvement, infrastructural development and social and skills development in schools.

Background to the Adopt-a-School Foundation

Thirty schools have been renovated and three entirely new schools have been built. Over 225 facilities have been built.

Over 320 stakeholders and educators have been trained in different fields including counselling, leadership and governance, computer skills, science, maths and accounting, library skills, language and literacy skills.

Principals trained in the Executive Leadership Programme at Wits University.

Close to 600 visually impaired primary school learners have received eye test screenings and spectacles.

Vision

To support the creation and enhancement of an environment

conducive to learning and teaching in state-funded schools

Mission

To mobilize the private sector and individuals to support schools

and education

Co-ordinating Partnerships

Adopt-a-School

Adopter – Lafarge Education Trust

DOE

Bodibe Schools and Community

Facilitated a relationship with all stakeholders

Various NGO service providers

Bodibe Schools Case Study

Steering committee

Operational committee

Challenges

A divided community Lack of distinct leadership

Community divided Conflict of power

Lack of trust Lack of communication Lack of planning High unemployment rate Mistrust of motives

Key Stakeholders Strong and committed partnerships are key to this project

Adopt-a-School Foundation

Shanduka Foundation

Lafarge Education Trust

Lafarge South Africa

Bodibe Community

The Royal Family

11 Schools in Bodibe (learners, parents, educators, SGBs and SMTs)

Provincial Department of Education: North West

District Authorities

Interventions Lafarge Education Trust 11 Bodibe Schools Adopt-a-School DoE Provincial

5405 learners and 185 educators benefitted

School Community Development • 60 members of school community trained on

computer skills • 11 principals and 1 circuit manager trained on

Executive Leadership at Wits School of Education

• 32 Educators trained in Language and Literacy • All schools trained on setting up

environmental clubs

Learner Development • Dental Care Programme for over 840

Foundation Phase learners • Grade 1 and 2 learners benefitted from

Language and Literacy programmes and resources

• 8 primary schools benefitted from eye-sight testing clinics and 450 learners received spectacles

• HIV/Aids Awareness and Life Skills

Infrastructure •16 classrooms •3 ablution blocks •4 libraries built and equipped with books •4 computer centres built and equipped •2 computer centres upgraded and revamped •6 schools renovated •1 science lab built and equipped •1 administration block built •1 borehole and play plump installed

•600 temporary jobs created for local people

•10 local SMMEs empowered and benefited from the

project

Interventions

DoE Provincial Lafarge Education Trust 11 Bodibe Schools Adopt-a-School

Sports • Effective soccer league (22 teams for boys and girls) • Provision of soccer kits and awards on an annual basis • Expansion of sport codes with Netball • 23 soccer coaches received level 1 coach training

Other • Motivational Talks, Career Guidance • Donations: library books, indoor games, indigenous trees • Lafarge Community awards which awarded 63 people (learners, educators and

community members and 4 schools)

Interventions – Current and Upcoming

DoE Provincial Lafarge Education Trust 11 Bodibe Schools Adopt-a-School

Infrastructure: • Grade R Facility • Science Labs in three schools • Library • Administration Block

Social and Skills Development: • Language and Literacy Programme for Grade 3 learners in all primary schools • Strategic Planning for all schools • Library training, coaching and mentoring in four schools • Science and Maths Educator Training and classroom based support for Bodibe

High School • Remedial Training of learners in two schools

Mobilizing other Stakeholders

Collaboration has provided opportunities for further interventions

• Old Mutual: Contributed R50 000 for the visual support programme

• Dreamfields: School Soccer League

• Colgate: Dental Hygiene Project in 2011

• Avusa Partnership: Potential training on newspapers as a teaching and learning tool

• Biblionef: Donation of books

• Infinite Family: Mentorship and Coaching Programme for learners

• Bridge: Coaching and mentorship for principals

• Lafarge Community Trust: Annual Community Awards Programme

• Department of Health: Healthcare support

Impacts – Transforming Bodibe • Improved infrastructure • Environmental awareness

• Cleanliness • Security

• Improvement in attitude towards education • Passionate leadership

• Punctuality and improved attendance and general discipline • Participation in extra mural and sport activities

• Motivated teachers • Boosted self esteem of learners

• Improved academic matric results (38% in 2008 to 96% in 2011) • Bodibe has become one of the top performing districts in the province

Bodibe Schools: Empowered for own interventions • SGB has renovated a block of classrooms at one school • Parents volunteer in vegetable gardens in all 11 schools • Afternoon and holiday classes for grade 11 and 12s

• Improved SMT tools and systems for teaching and learning • Soccer committee to support sport

• SGB Forum to voice concerns and interests • Improved school surroundings

• Peer to Peer Coaching

In Conclusion…

•Strategic Alignment to Lafarge’s corporate interests: improving their reputation in the community and effectively implementing their CSI initiatives.

•Collaboration and partnerships have been key to the success and sustainability of this project.

•Effective communication between stakeholders is critical in dealing with challenges in the community.

•Our ongoing learnings and experiences have enabled us to collaborate with another organisation in a new venture which will greatly increase our impact.

Principal graduations – WITS School of Management

School based science training

at Tau Rapulana Language and Literacy programme - The Molteno Institute

Eyesight Testing