Education support for children in South Africa

We are glad to report that formal schooling is continuing in South Africa on a more normal schedule, despite the presence of Covid-19 still causing disruptions to attendance at times,

The education department's efforts to introduce safety protocols in schools and to vaccinate teachers has now created the possibility to keep schools open and return to everyday attendance.

Whilst we know many virtual adaptations and provisions have been made at our youth centre – whilst still seeing successful outcomes for our children and young people – it is of course positive for them to return to formal schooling!

In the last report we spoke about the increased need within Early Childhood Development referrals. We are pleased that we have enrolled 5 of these kids into crèche/pre-primary. It is also thanks to our supporters who contribute to making such activities take place.

With outside support we received we have also been able to renovate a cement space at the youth centre into a functional venue for a ‘Maranatha Crèche’ to help provide education and stimulation for the 3 other boys, who we then hope to be in a position to enroll in formal school settings next year!

It is positive to see this growth in our ECD programme, whilst we continue to see successful outcomes for our young adults and long-term care cases staying with us as part of our Independent Living Programme for 16-21 year olds with an after-care commitment that can take them forward post-21 if needed, even up to the age of 24.

I personally think that this programme in particular is essential. It opens up doors for vital learning – transitional life skills for adulthood – and opportunities for work, study or training in a supportive environment that can help ensure the young person becomes the best possible version of themselves.

The importance of this has been amplified when we look at youth unemployment and the socio and economic threats it poses globally – specifically in South Africa where young adults account for over 50% of those unemployed. The latest figures from Stats SA shows that where we operate in the Eastern Cape there is a staggering unemployment rate of 47% overall.

This is where we are glad for the services we render. Just to reflect on some of our outcomes, of the 11 young people age 16-24 we support residentially at this stage:

o   18% are in high school

o   36% are in full-time employment

o   36% are in higher education or university

o   10% are in vocational training

We also track the young people who left the organisation and have been integrated into society in order to offer support where required.

It provides hope for us, when we see the small children referred to us, that we can also see the positive future outcomes of young people we have invested in. This helps to overturn what can often be a pessimistic outlook. It is only with the help of those reading this that we can continue to achieve such results and transform lives – please do give what you can!

Thanks for the support!

Links:

• Official Charity Website