STRONG SCHOOLS

“Education is the most powerful weapon which you can use to change the world.” – Nelson Mandela

In every community where we work, both primary and high schools need help. These schools are typically under-resourced with less than ideal teacher-pupil ratios. School safety is a huge issue and the threats lie both outside the school fence, as well as within. Where learners are caught up in gangsterism and substance abuse, the danger spills over into the classroom and the playground. Parent involvement is minimal at best and non-existent at worst – and school infrastructure is in desperate need of maintenance.

Despite the fact that education is one of the biggest focus areas of our national budget, these challenges are not yet being addressed effectively. A more extensive – and more thoughtful team effort is needed. Our Strong Schools programme seeks to support, through close collaboration with other role players working in this field, initiatives such as:

  • School safety

  • Food security

  • Curriculum support

  • Infrastructure and maintenance

  • Sport and recreation

  • Parent involvement

  • Access to mentorship

  • Development of teachers

  • Sourcing of donors and funding

Congratulations, Principal Frans!

Congratulations, Principal Frans!

We're jumping for joy with Mr Ronald Frans, the formidable principal of Klapmuts Primary School in the Western Cape. Mr Frans received the Lifetime Achievement Award for his contribution to nation building and shaping society at the 19th Annual National Teaching...

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More children enjoy a safer space

More children enjoy a safer space

Fifteen volunteers from Stellenbosch and Kayamandi joined the Ranyaka team on Saturday to paint Lillies' Crèche. The crèche was painted with special fire-retardant paint in December. This weekend, we added a bright top coat. The fire-retardant (intumescent) paint...

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Not just paint

Not just paint

For Lillies Day Care Centre in Kayamandi, Stellenbosch, the year kicks off with a fresh coat of paint. But not just any paint. This special fire-retardant (intumescent) paint will delay the rate at which flames spread, should a fire break out at the wooden structure...

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A safer crèche for the children of Kinder Joy

A safer crèche for the children of Kinder Joy

The painting of wooden structures at Early Childhood Development centres with intumescent (fire retardant) paint is critical to help keep our children safe. Nedbank's Proud of my Town programme is making it possible for wooden structures at crèches in Paarl and...

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Celebrating change agents | Fagma Swart

Celebrating change agents | Fagma Swart

Congratulations to the principal of Klapmuts Junior Academy, Fagma Swart! Fagma has been recognised as the practitioner with the highest number of active days amongst The Reach Trust's sample group in Klapmuts. She makes use of free-to-use literacy apps developed by...

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Nedbank Proud of My Town Stellenbosch launch

Nedbank Proud of My Town Stellenbosch launch

Over 600 children from 20 crèches will benefit from Nedbank's Proud about my Town fund, launched in Stellenbosch on Friday. Crèches principals, stakeholders from the ECD arena, as well as representatives from Nedbank and the Stellenbosch Municipality joined in a...

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