Khanya School The evolving story behind Herne Hill Schools adopted sister school

Introduction At the end of 2005, Herne Hill School formed an allegiance with Khanya Primary School, a state school in Cape TownAt the end of 2005, Herne Hill School formed an allegiance with Khanya Primary School, a state school in Cape Town Our aim has been to form long lasting links which:Our aim has been to form long lasting links which: –Support this desperately poor school –Provide benefits to our children such as making them more appreciative of the material comfort they enjoy and aware of the world they live in This presentation aims to:This presentation aims to: –Introduce Khanya Primary School –Explain the history of our relationship with them, including some of the most important support initiatives made possible through superb efforts and help by our parent association the Friends of Herne Hill School (FHHS or the Friends)

Khanya Primary School is a public state school in Cape Town, South Africa Cape Town

It started in 2004 as a split-off from an overcrowded school in Samora Machel, Philippi Xhosa is the native language in the area

The nearest available facility was in a remote and isolated youth reformatory

As a result, all children had to come to school by school bus (about 30 min. ride)

Since Khanya quickly grew to nearly 1000 learners… Khanya in Nov learners 24 educators 0 assistants 5 support staff GradesAgeChildrenAdults Class sizes

… the facilities became vastly overcrowded, with frequently 60+ children per classroom

In Jan. 2006, Khanya was moved to the better facilities of a school in the coloured and much wealthier area of Mitchells Plain Buckingham Primary School was relocated because it had only about 350 learners and was using only one of the schools two wings

Although the children still need to be bused to school…

… the facilities are more accessible and much more spacious

In 2015, Khanya will finally be able to move into its own premises in the community where the children live Security at the new school premises should also be improved as they are located next to a police academy Security at the new school premises should also be improved as they are located next to a police academy

The vast majority of children live in shack dwellings…

… as about two-thirds of their parents are unemployed and therefore very poor

An entire family lives in such a dwelling, usually without heating

Only a small fraction of children live in solid brick houses such as these

By contrast, the school is a safe haven where the children proudly wear their uniforms…

…and where their learning amounts to a beacon of hope

The children work hard and take school seriously Typical day for this 7-grader Get up at 5:30 a.m.Get up at 5:30 a.m. Eat breakfast, wash, brush teeth, put on school uniformEat breakfast, wash, brush teeth, put on school uniform Walk to bus stop at 6:40 a.m.Walk to bus stop at 6:40 a.m. Bus leaves at 7:10 a.m. and gets to school at 7:40 a.m.Bus leaves at 7:10 a.m. and gets to school at 7:40 a.m. School from 8 a.m. to 2:30 p.m.School from 8 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. Take bus back home, change, eat, wash dishesTake bus back home, change, eat, wash dishes HomeworkHomework Watch TV and play with friendsWatch TV and play with friends

From Grade 1 through Grade 3, teaching is essentially in Xhosa with form teachers

From Grade 4, teaching is essentially in English and by subject

The children are excellent dancers

They also sing beautifully

Today, Khanya has about 1400 learners for 30 educators – about five times more than Herne Hill for similar staff numbers Khanya Grades learners 29 educators 5 assistants 5 support staff Herne Hill Nursery – Year 2 3 – pupils 20+ teachers 20+ assistants 5 support staff GradesAgeChildrenAdults Class sizes

This was initially only available for the neediest children A major improvement since 2007 has been the provision of a hot rice and beans lunch by the Department of Education

The children eat standing or sitting outside

After lunch, they wash their plate and spoon and keep them in the classroom

It is fitted with alarm, air conditioning and 28 work stations enabling entire classes to be accommodated (through double seating per workstation) Another important improvement was the establishment of a modern computer lab by the Dept. of Education in 2009

Herne Hill Schools link with Khanya started in fall 2005 with the help of School-Aid Origin of our relationship with Khanya Primary School Regular requests from parent Regular requests from parent association FHHS to make school association FHHS to make school in 3 rd world charity of the year in 3 rd world charity of the year Definition of criteria (age range, Definition of criteria (age range, size, ethos, location, etc.) and size, ethos, location, etc.) and briefing thereof to School-Aid briefing thereof to School-Aid School-Aid visit in Africa identifies School-Aid visit in Africa identifies Khanya as ideal candidate in June 2005 Khanya as ideal candidate in June 2005 FHHS adopt Khanya as charity of the year and launch of FHHS adopt Khanya as charity of the year and launch of relationship through visit by Dominik in Nov relationship through visit by Dominik in Nov Supporting schools in emerging countries

From the outset, we felt that Herne Hill children would also greatly benefit from this link Awareness of their own relative material wealth and thankfulness for what they haveAwareness of their own relative material wealth and thankfulness for what they have Realisation that material wealth is not all that mattersRealisation that material wealth is not all that matters –The Khanya children can be just as talented and happy in spite of their poverty –Friendships and human bonds are also very important An additional way to experience our loving, caring ethos and the satisfaction that comes from helping and givingAn additional way to experience our loving, caring ethos and the satisfaction that comes from helping and giving Important element of becoming responsible citizens of our world community, together with ecological awareness, appreciating nature, etc.Important element of becoming responsible citizens of our world community, together with ecological awareness, appreciating nature, etc. Learning about Africa and the wider worldLearning about Africa and the wider world Appreciation of the importance of education and how seriously the Khanya children take itAppreciation of the importance of education and how seriously the Khanya children take it

Our material support started with donations of used books and stationary, which have been shipped through School-Aid

This enabled library corners in every Khanya classroom These books also formed the initial content of the new school library, which was established with our help These books also formed the initial content of the new school library, which was established with our help

We also sent curriculum books, which the educators appreciated greatly

In 2006 and 2007, the Friends equipped the newly founded Reception classes, for which there were no resources whatsoever, with furniture…

… and all educational resources

The Friends also contributed for several months to the first Reception teachers salary until it could be included in Khanyas budget Unfortunately, the Department closed the Reception classes at Khanya after a couple of years as it could no longer justify busing Reception children. However, Khanya should again have Reception classes once they are at their new site. Unfortunately, the Department closed the Reception classes at Khanya after a couple of years as it could no longer justify busing Reception children. However, Khanya should again have Reception classes once they are at their new site.

Another example of support by the Friends included buying a science kit in 2006 and replenishing it in 2009

As a result, the dedicated science teacher had resources besides blackboard and chalk

Linda on her last day at Herne Hill singing and dancing with Mrs Beales, Mrs Telford, Mrs Irby and Mr Carles Linda on her last day at Herne Hill singing and dancing with Mrs Beales, Mrs Telford, Mrs Irby and Mr Carles The month-long visit in June 2009 by Linda Mahote (Khanyas Deputy Principal at the time) further strengthened our link

In 2010, Khanya suffered major break-ins from drug addicted vandals, which caused a temporary halt in our ability to send material goods and funds as their security could no longer be assured The vandalisation was compounded by issues surrounding the previous Principal, who has since resigned and been indicted The vandalisation was compounded by issues surrounding the previous Principal, who has since resigned and been indicted

With the graduating class of Dec. 2007, we launched our own bursary scheme to annually support six gifted and deserving learners through secondary school Bursary scheme outline Six learners are chosen annually from the three Grade 7 classes based on:Six learners are chosen annually from the three Grade 7 classes based on: Academic performance and potentialAcademic performance and potential Financial needFinancial need Good natured and giving personalityGood natured and giving personality The chosen bursaries all move on to local state schools, so, there are no school fees and transport costs to pay – only the uniform, excursions and stationery; this amounts to about £80 per bursary per yearThe chosen bursaries all move on to local state schools, so, there are no school fees and transport costs to pay – only the uniform, excursions and stationery; this amounts to about £80 per bursary per year This is provided for all six years of secondary school as long as the bursaries continue to achieve good grades and stay in touch with Khanya School; the Friends have generously set aside funds to provide this supportThis is provided for all six years of secondary school as long as the bursaries continue to achieve good grades and stay in touch with Khanya School; the Friends have generously set aside funds to provide this support

The scheme is working well and is meeting our objectives The scheme has apparently had a major motivational boost for many learners throughout the school – not just in Grade 7The scheme has apparently had a major motivational boost for many learners throughout the school – not just in Grade 7 When setting up the scheme, it was our hope that some of the bursaries would eventually go to university and be able to make a difference in their community, thereby closing the loop of our support from the first school year through the entire education cycleWhen setting up the scheme, it was our hope that some of the bursaries would eventually go to university and be able to make a difference in their community, thereby closing the loop of our support from the first school year through the entire education cycle These hopes continue to become reality as Sibongile Fatyi, a bursary from the first group which graduated in 2007, was accepted at University of Cape Town to study Applied Biology from February 2013 with a full scholarship covering fees and accommodation; the Friends are generously continuing to sponsor her by paying for weekend transport back home and pocket money, and the school provided her with a laptopThese hopes continue to become reality as Sibongile Fatyi, a bursary from the first group which graduated in 2007, was accepted at University of Cape Town to study Applied Biology from February 2013 with a full scholarship covering fees and accommodation; the Friends are generously continuing to sponsor her by paying for weekend transport back home and pocket money, and the school provided her with a laptop Sibongile with Linda Mahote

To conclude, we are proud to be associated with these friendly, …

… studious, …

… responsible, …

… happy, …

… and lively …

… boys …

… and girls

Thank you for taking an interest in them!