involvement
11 August 2006
'Adopting' an informal settlement; cleaning up the neighbourhood; repairing
vandalised school buildings; a special treat for the elderly; pampering nurses;
parents reading to their children, teachers visiting the homes of absent
learners; motivational talks; the launch of an education foundation and parents
teaching knitting and crochet skills to kids.
This is all happening during the Inaugural Week of the Western Cape
Education Department's (WCED) Community Schools Initiative (CSI) from 14 to 18
August involving some 200 primary and high schools, more than 200 000 learners
and over half a million members of the community throughout the province.
This fresh initiative which will be an annual feature under the overall
banner of the Learning Cape Festival, is the brainchild of Education MEC
Cameron Dugmore. In a message to schools earlier he said "this is a long-term
initiative to encourage schools to examine their relationship with their
communities."
The WCED set aside some money to incentives activities for this initiative.
The volunteering schools could receive up to R1 000 which they could use as
seed funding to support any simple approved creative project proposal.
For example, the grade seven learners of Wespoort Primary School in
Mitchell's Plain will on Monday paint the school benches and on Tuesday the
parents will be cleaning and painting the toilets.
Good news too for the nurses of Lentegeur Clinic is that the "pampering
team" the grade seven learners of Lantana will be out in full force on 17
August to share their pedicure, manicure, massage, facial and hair care skills
with the staff.
Mrs O Williams of West Ridge Secondary School is excited about their plan to
"Adopt an Informal Settlement" and thanked MEC Dugmore "for inspiring this
worthy cause. We feel that knowing more about them will help us to understand
them and their plight. We will also appeal to our students and the community to
donate food, clothing and bedding on a regular basis for the people at the
camp."
Esselen Park Secondary School in Worcester is situated near a community of
flats dwellers. They plan to paint and repair rooftops and windows and provide
each household with a letterbox.
Said MEC Dugmore; "the role of schools within the communities and vice versa
is a vital one. Many schools are subject to devastating vandalism and other
security threats.
"The managers of those schools are trying to provide safe and peaceful
havens for their learners within high fences. In the process often a divide is
developing between the school and its very own lifeblood or support system its
neighbours.
"I am convinced that it is through inspired partnerships and the conscious
cultivating of social capital that we will find the power to make huge and real
strides in learning and development in this province.
"I believe in this development of social capital to such an extent that I
have made it the governing principle for the current financial year embodied in
our slogan. Each one teach one together building a learning home for all.
Elkeen leer iemand; saam bou ons 'n leertuiste vir almal. Omnye ufundisa omnye
sakha kunye ikhaya lokufunda lomntu wonke."
"In terms of my vision for the Learning Cape as a Learning Home for all we
will have not just learning schools but also learning homes, learning streets
and learning communities. We need a community mobilisation such as we have
never imagined it before."
For more information on the WCED's CSI or to find out how you can contribute
to this worthy cause call CSI Project Manager Anne Schlebusch at 083 272 4346
or (021) 4672528. You can e-mail us as well at helper@pgwc.gov.za.
Donations in kind (e.g. paint and cleaning materials or magazines) as well
as in cash will be gratefully received.
If you want to help with literacy (e.g. reading to young children or
listening to them read) call 0800 45 46 47.
Your nearest school is only a few kilometres away, give them a call. Maybe
you can lend a hand in the garden; help reclaim some land; manage a re-cycling
project; help with safety and security.
MEC Dugmore will be visiting the following schools on Monday, 14 August:
Time: 08h00 - 09h00: Addressing Assembly Macassar High School, Bind
Avenue.
Time: 09h15 - 10h00: St Paul's Farm School
MEC to help clean-up grounds around river with 147 learners and staff. (Other
initiatives include reading classes and skills development for parents.)
Time: 10h15 - 10h45: Noluthando School for the Deaf (Assist learners and
community starting vegetable tunnels. Other initiatives include launch of Adult
Based Education and Training (ABET) centre for deaf learners and launch
training programmes for community in computer literacy and business
skills).
Directions - From Faure, take Firgrove road towards Kuilsriver. Get onto
Baden Powell Drive, onto N2. Take Spine Road exit of N2 at Military Base, turn
left, get to circle, turn right, first robots. Turn right and after 2,5 km on
the right-hand side.
Time: 11h00 - 11h45: Alta du Toit Special School at the Sarepta Old Age Home
(Foundation phase learners to sing to residents of Sarepta Old Age Home).
For enquiries contact:
Gert Witbooi
Media Liaison Officer
Tel: (021) 467 2523
Fax: (021) 425 5689
Cell: 082 550 3938
E-mail: gwitbooi@pgwc.gov.za
Issued by: Department of Education, Western Cape Provincial Government
11 August 2006
