Page 9 - Adopt-a-School Foundation 2016-2017 Annual Report
P. 9

A key turning point in Adopt-a-School   greatest achievements of the past year has   Thank you for walking this journey with us.
          Foundation’s 15-year journey was the    been the extension of its partner network. All
          realisation that the value of a school is not in   of its achievements, detailed in this report,   Cyril Ramaphosa
          its buildings, but in its people. As our insight   are a result of collaborative efforts between
          into this concept has developed, so our   individuals, private organisations, school
          competency and capacity has grown and   communities, public benefit organisations
          our Whole School Development Model has   and government departments. It is the
          taken shape.                            shared belief in education as a critical driver
                                                  of social and economic change that gives   Chairperson
          The nature of the Whole School          me great confidence in the prospects for   Adopt-a-School Foundation
          Development model has ensured that the   South African school children.
          Foundation stays relevant and robust. What
          is also becoming more and more evident is   In 2017, Adopt-a-School Foundation
          the extent to which socio-economic issues   celebrates 15 years of service to South
          affect a child’s ability to learn effectively. As   African schools. When we opened our
          such, it is necessary that Adopt-a-School is in   doors in 2002, our vision was clear: to assist
          a position to address the critical social issues   schools that are in need by mobilising
          that face our learners.                 society to invest in education through
                                                  the creation of conducive teaching
          In 2017, Adopt-a-School piloted its first social  and learning environments in
          issues programme aimed at supporting    South Africa’s most marginalised
          women and children. Funded by the Cyril   schools.
          Ramaphosa Foundation, this programme
          aims to ensure that schools are able to   In 15 years, we have worked
          provide a safe environment that is inclusive,   in over 440 schools,
          free from violence, is academically effective,   impacting on the lives of
          gender sensitive and promotes health and   hundreds of thousands
          well-being. The programme is an extension   of school children and
          of Adopt-a-School’s existing efforts to   their families. Our vision
          address the social and emotional issues   remains more relevant than
          that are impacting on school children. It   ever. Education is the best
          has resulted in the development of a social   weapon at our disposal to
          welfare department within the organisation,   eradicate poverty and the role
          with experienced social workers supporting   of Adopt-a-School Foundation
          our existing work in schools.           remains a critical one.
          One of Adopt-a-School Foundation’s



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