32

2015

Published by EDGE Learning

Brought to you by:

www.edgelearningmedia.com

L E A R N I N G M E D I A

P artners for Possibility (PfP) is an organisation that has brokered groundbreaking partnerships between business leaders and school principals, partnerships that continue to reap astonishing results in the schools where they have been put in place.

This is not just another education initiative – the process has been carefully designed so that school principals have all of the support they require to do their jobs. And once they have that, they are properly equipped to lead change at their schools.

54

There are thousands of schools in South Africa that are not performing as they should, and all of those schools share two traits: principals have not been adequately trained for their roles, and a lack of community around the school.

The PfP process works like this: a business leader comes alongside the principal as a thinking partner. The leader is not there to mentor, or provide handouts. Rather, this is a true partnership, where both parties learn from each other.

Together they find solutions for the school, and find ways to build a community at the school, re-energise the teachers and ignite a love of

learning in the pupils. Working from the basis of asset-based community building, everyone associated with the school has a role to play, and once the school is at the centre of the community, the magic begins. Schools begin to turn themselves around. And everybody involved in the process, from the children to the organisation that the business leader belongs to, benefits.

Partners for Possibility is like no other educational intervention in South Africa, because it is simultaneously a movement of conscious citizenship, a community-building process, a leadership programme, and a corporate social initiative.

Putting schools at

the centre of community

The power to change the very fabric of South African society.

7

The mAgic of bEinG A LEARnER

PRocESS fAciLiTAToR It has been my great privilege to be a Learning Process facilitator for Partners for Possibility, specifically for the principals and business partners of cape Town circle 10. i have walked alongside magic. i have witnessed greatness

of spirit. i have experienced, and continue to experience, hope.

The magic is what happens when two people (the partnership of principal and business partner) or more (the whole circle of partnerships) meet with joint concern and commitment in the interest of something or someone that is beyond the individual self. This is where the limitations of our habitual ways of thinking and doing dissolve and the possibilities of our greater selves emerge. Having a thinking partner in an atmosphere of respect and acceptance enables our thinking to expand in ways that enrich our consciousness, our choices and the resultant experiences for ourselves and for those around us.

The greatness of spirit is evident in the kind of person who steps into the PfP process. in the members of cape Town circle 10, individually and as a group, i found that spirit in abundance. These are people with the heart and the will to make a difference to

education and to our country. Their commitment to their partnerships and the circle reflect the depth of their character, their capacity for mutual respect and willingness to learn from each other. in them i found leaders and role models who inspire success, grounded in healthy values and relationships.

Sharon van Schalkwyk

hope. in South Africa we have seen many glimmers of the potential reality of a great nation,

of a nation with vision, creativity and stature.

The teamcircle 10

As a facilitator of this circle, i have had the privilege to walk among people who are the mobilisers of that reality. They are the creators of hope, for us and for our youth.

Thank you to Partners for Possibility and to the principals and business partners of circle 10, for a year that has enriched my life beyond measure.

Top from left: Virol Esau and Andrew Hibling. Juan Julius and Alice Kramer. Ridiwaan van der Heyden and Ronél Swart. Hilda Rolls and Liezel Gordon.

Bottom from left: Sandy Daniels and Belinda Gaus. Charles Jansen and Elise Malherbe. Mogammat Samodien and Shamila Abrahams. Faiq Salie and Tony Voges.

98

children’s dreams

contents24 erica Primary School / metropolitan

20Wingfield Primary School / Sage HR & Payroll

32Thomas Wildschutt Senior Primary School / iLiO energy and Advantage Management consulting

16hout Bay High School / mySchool MyVillage MyPlanet

12 Wittebome High School / edge Learning

28 Silverlea Primary School / Belinda Gaus and hci foundation

36 iqra Academy / Nedbank

40Wynberg High School / Alacrity Technologies

1110

PArTNerSHiPS

iqra Academy / Nedbank

Wittebome High School / edge Learning

erica Primary School / metropolitan

hout Bay High School / mySchool MyVillage MyPlanet

Silverlea Primary School / Belinda Gaus and hci foundation

Wingfield Primary School / Sage HR & Payroll Wynberg High School / Alacrity Technologies

Thomas Wildschutt Senior Primary School / iLiO energy and Advantage Management consulting

1312

When i was first told about Partners for Possibility i was intrigued about getting to know a principal! We all know that education is the only key that can unlock the true potential of South Africa, and there are many organisations that

recognise this and are doing great work; but Partners for Possibility offered me the opportunity to make it real.

our plan was to see if we could make a difference to the accounting learners by providing the Grade 10, 11 and 12 classes with video learning resources produced by EDGE Learning. Video learning has the potential to allow learners that extra time at home for them to take responsibility for their learning. We also provided a TV screen for Mr van der Schyff’s classroom, which he installed and locked down himself. He uses it in his lessons to augment his teaching.

The core of my lessons from the partnership have come from the people i have met. The monthly community of practice meetings were the most enjoyable part of the programme. i have found it quite humbling to be surrounded by these principals who are to me the true leaders of education in South Africa. Their stories, passion and insight are inspiring.

When i decided to be part of Partners for Possibility i had mixed feelings. When i met my partner Andrew for the first time i realised he was very passionate about education. Andrew and i then agreed that we would draw up a plan to see what we hoped to achieve over the period.

Since the first community of practice meeting i looked forward to meeting with the other business partners and principals. The community of practice meetings afforded me the opportunity to share with the rest of the group and to listen to what the other groups were doing. The community of practice meetings allowed me to see how things are different from school to school. i enjoyed the togetherness, the intimacy and meeting with the rest of the group.

Andrew HiblingEDGE Learning

Virol Esau Wittebome High School

As quoted by one of the Grade 12s: ‘it’s like having my teacher in my pocket’.

WiTTeBOme HiGH ScHooLedge LEARninG

1514

A word from the sponsor

EDGE Learning is a company committed to improving education in South Africa. We believe in bridging the gap in educational opportunity, and Partners for Possibility has given us a chance to turn this ideal into something real.

By providing video learning resources to Wittebome High School, we are aiming to increase the efficiency of these students’ learning inside and outside the classroom – ultimately giving them opportunities to learn at their own pace and take responsibility for their studies. EDGE Learning acknowledges its place in the community of educators in South Africa, and we take our responsibility for harnessing the talent of South African students very seriously. We are therefore proud of our association with Partners for Possibility and look forward to creating further opportunities in future.

The courses have been great and i really feel as though my leadership skills have benefited, and i have profoundly changed the way that i conduct different elements of my business and personal life. flawless consulting was the most influential for me. it was very activity-orientated, and the skills i learnt are hopefully timeless.

The most rewarding part of this journey has been my friendship with Virol. i think he is an astute man. Although sometimes quiet, he became known for his synopses that captured what everybody was thinking and feeling.

The courses i attended brought about many changes in my life; not only teaching but also in my everyday life. They have brought about a change in my management of my staff, too; especially in staff meetings. i have learnt to become a better listener; afford equal opportunity to all present; and afford each person an opportunity to have their say. i now deal differently with learners and parents. i do not just rush into situations and make decisions. i analyse and listen very carefully. it was good sharing with each member.

i have developed professionally in the short space of time more than i had developed over the past 5 years. To me everything was happening so quickly, and i have learnt so much in this partnership. The passion Andrew displays for education has reignited a flame in me to keep me going with my everyday tasks, and to be enthusiastic about the day.

Andrew HiblingEDGE Learning

Virol EsauWittebome High School

The partnership has exposed me to many new ideas.

www.edgelearningmedia.comL E A R N I N G M E D I A

15

Main pic: Learners hard at work. From left: Virol, Andrew and the Video Learning screen. The EDGE Learning Team. committed Parents.

1716

When Juan talked through the challenges of running a school in a community where drugs, gangsterism, abuse, uninvolved parents and teenage pregnancies are an everyday reality i wondered how i would be able to make a difference. The task felt daunting, but Juan’s warmth and sincerity, his interest in

and understanding of the children in his care, and his sense of humour drew me in. As i listened and learnt more about the school i started to understand what an extraordinary place it is.

Hout bay High School is in very capable hands with Juan, but creating this environment takes extraordinary dedication and commitment from him and his team. With little support and often hostility from the community it can be draining and energy-sapping. That is where the partnership comes in.

We meet each week in the Woolworths cafe in Hout bay, and over the course of the year we have focused on the positive things happening in the school and invited parents and people in the community to share our enthusiasm for them. We have filled two vacant teaching posts with capable teachers.

Hout bay High School is more than a school – learners and teachers stay there way beyond the official school day, working in the vegetable gardens, doing art with the Lalela project, having extra study periods, singing in the choir, preparing for the science expo, playing in the jazz club and more.

During the year, Alice and i have built more than a partnership. We are building a foundation from which a network of support for the school is developing. our partnership is a trusted place to solve problems, toss ideas about, think differently about old issues, plan, connect people in and around the community, get things done, raise funds, laugh and have fun.

Alice KramerMySchool MyVillage MyPlanet

Juan Julius Hout bay High School

We are building a foundation from which a network of support

for the school is developing.

hOuT BAy HiGH ScHooLmySchool MyVillage MyPlanet

1918

A word from the sponsor

The MySchool MyVillage MyPlanet fundraising programme has been supporting schools for over 17 years and in that time the need for quality school leadership and management has always remained a key to unlocking a school’s potential.

During an era of rapid change and increasing complexity within South Africa and schools the need for quality leadership and progressive partnerships has become more and more crucial. We invested in our first Partner for Possibility in 2014 and are very proud to have been part of the process. The initiative highlights the potential success that can be gained through applying solid leadership development principles in schools and the tremendously  positive effect collaboration and partnerships can have.

We invited parents to an art exhibition of their children’s work. What a wonderful evening it was! Proud children, delighted parents, inspirational stories. A performance from the newly formed jazz club and spontaneous singing from the choir. Art exhibitions are going to happen regularly now.

We were thrilled with the turnout of parents at the exhibition. in the past, very few parents have been engaged in school activities. When the grade 8 children invited their parents to the exhibition of their art work we had a 70% turnout of parents. The way we engaged the parents was different - they felt included in the lives of their children at the school.

Although the year has come to an end, our partnership and friendship will not. i have been co-opted onto the governing body and will continue to work closely with

Juan, who has built and continues to grow a happy and successful school in the Hangberg community.

We have built a relationship with a local businessman in The Mankind Project through which the school will participate in their ‘boys to men’ programme. We have been supported by a local nursery with compost for the school garden and have ongoing support from Alice’s daughter’s riding teacher Gael who supplies horse manure for the garden. We are building a relationship with the Hout bay Woolworths store for, amongst other things, work experience for our learners. Many of the past pupils from Hout bay High School work in the Hout bay Woolies. We are working with the Lalela Project to weave creativity and hope into the learner’s lives and to build a support network.

We are working with the Hangberg Educational Trust to build a better community. We will be running parenting workshops to support and develop parents in the community.

none of this would have been possible without Louise and Partners for Possibility, nor without the generous sponsorship of MySchool MyVillage MyPlanet.

Alice KramerMySchool MyVillage MyPlanet

Juan Julius Hout bay High School

We thank you for making this partnership possible.

Main pic: Art exhibition. From left: Art exhibition. Science Expo. Student garden competition. Jazz band.

19

2120

Wingfield Primary has a huge challenge with the language of learning and teaching. our school services predominantly learners from poor socioeconomic backgrounds whose first language is Afrikaans; but their parents want them educated in English. We also cater for isiXhosa-speaking and foreign learners.

We aspired to promote reading through a reward system, which we knew the learners would appreciate. We had to consider the different reading levels of each learner to ensure that all of them felt that they had achieved. To ensure this happens, the service of the learning support educator, Mrs van Wyk, was employed. She will administer a pre- and post-test to measure the learners’ reading levels.

We were very surprised at the number of parents who attended the parent briefing. The enthusiasm of the parents was much appreciated. it meant that they would be supporting their children.

ronél SwartSage HR & Payroll

ridiwaan van der Heyden Wingfield Primary School

WiNgfieLd PRiMARy ScHooLSAge HR & PAyRoLL

There are so many challenges in school nowadays, but the most important one that we wanted to address was the improvement of literacy levels. We firmly believe that ‘a child who reads can be an adult who thinks’.

After a brainstorming session, the ‘i‘m a bookworm’ reading programme was born. The aim was to get learners to read more, so we created milestones for them to reach before the end of the last quarter.

it is almost impossible for the school to drive this project alone. We needed the buy-in and support of the parents. Therefore, the programme was launched to the parents. Ridiwaan baked the worm cake for all the parents who attended the launch, which went down well! However, we realised that feeding parents cake would not be enough. A promise was made of gift vouchers for the winners at the prize-

giving ceremony.

With the parents now on board, we needed the stars of the programme to also get (and stay) excited about reading. The pilot group was the very enthusiastic Grade 4A class, taught by Ms Viljoen. They were all very excited about being part of the ‘i’m a bookworm’ reading programme.

We firmly believe that ‘a child who reads can be an adult who thinks’.

2322

A word from the sponsor

23

Each learner received a button badge to create hype amongst their peers. This of course resulted in other learners asking a lot of questions about the badges and the reading programme, which is just what we wanted! These badges were worn with pride and the class was the envy of many others. The other Gr 4 class also started a reading programme.

We encouraged them to join the public library, as the school does not have one.

The learners had to fill in a short book review after reading each book to test their comprehension. Many learners can read, but there is no comprehension. by encouraging them to do a very basic book report, they were stimulated to read to understand.

Whenever the learners had to show us their progress they did so with pride. Learners who never could or wanted to read made the effort. When they showed the number of books read we made a fuss over them.

After the successful implementation of this programme we decided to continue in Term 2 of 2015. We will include all the Gr 4 and 5 classes this time; and the educators in these grades have already bought into the idea!

Each learner received a bookworm bookmark. by issuing them with bookmarks we indirectly taught them to respect books. All learners were assessed before the programme started. blue dots recorded the number of books read by each learner.

Mrs Viljoen made the effort to make the chart. Each learner also had a ‘worm’ they had to construct. The worm grew with every book they read. it was quite pleasing to watch the worms grow.

Learners were assessed after the completion of the programme to monitor improvement. certificates and gift vouchers were handed to the learners during the awards ceremony. The learners and parents of the learners received vouchers for the following categories:

• best improvement • Most books read • best reader

After the successful implementation of this programme we decided to continue in Term 2 of 2015.

ronél SwartSage HR & Payroll

ridiwaan van der Heyden Wingfield Primary School

It is a privilege to form part of a movement that improves education in South Africa. We truly believe that the children are the future of this country. We need to invest in them in order to create educated leaders for tomorrow.Main pic: Wingfield learners. From left: Ronél showing off the badges. book review books. Ridiwaan’s worm cake for parents.

2524

The partnership gave me hands-on experience with the realities facing the majority of South Africans, and the chance to work with the people at the heart of South Africa, the teachers. The Partners for Possibilities programme also struck

me in a personal way, as my eldest child started Grade 1 this year.

The way in which Time to Think positioned listening as a tool was amazing. Time to Think teaches you that if one is free to speak when someone truly gives their full attention and really listens, without interruption – there is magic that happens.

This team is a family with lots of love and care for each other, and by taking them through a collaborative planning session they could easily put a blueprint together for their school. We divided the team into small groups and encouraged them to share their thoughts and then feed back to the larger group after each session. At the same time we illustrated their thoughts so that they could share their plan with the broader community through a visual journey. The group identified eight focus areas, each being driven by different teachers.

As an educator with 29 years’ experience, i was well versed and knowledgeable about the school curriculum and teaching, but i needed to build relationships with the educators at my school as well as the broader school community. i also wanted to mobilise the parents and the society who lived around the school to play an active role in the education process.

i planned a strategic session prior to joining Partners for Possibility. Although i knew this was an important session for my team and i to have, i was unsure of how i was going to achieve the outcome i was looking for. i found the answer in conversation with my partner.

After the strategic session we had the flawless consulting course. consulting with stakeholders and everyone in the school family was crucial because we can only be successful if we have the support of parents and the broader community. This course has taken my human relations to another level – a paradigm shift which enabled me

Liezel GordonMetropolitan

hilda Rolls Erica Primary School

ericA PRiMARy ScHooLmeTrOPOLiTAN i’ve always had a deep desire to give

back and make a meaningful difference.

2726

A word from the sponsor

Reading the Art of Possibility was such a treat. i loved the energy of ben and Rosamund Zander. The 2 points that really spoke to me were: How a positive outlook on life changes your perspective and how to give people the benefit of the doubt.

The prospectus was the manifestation of what Erica Primary wants to achieve – excellence, simplicity and focus. We wanted parents, students and the broader community to be part of this journey and visually explain to them where this school is heading.

This is a school with heart.

i received a number of gifts from the Partners for Possibility programme: The gift of gaining insight into the social issues which drives some of the major dysfunctions in our society. i am also a different person as a result of this programme.

The new values programme is being implemented at the school and i am keen to see the difference that living the values of caring, Respect, Responsibility, Trustworthiness, fairness and Enthusiasm can make in the school and in the broader community.

to develop meaningful relationships with colleagues, parents and other members in the community during a time when transformation is crucial.

The change we wanted to see starts with the culture we create within the school: transforming it into ‘the school of choice for holistic developed learners that reach their full potential’.

We discovered an appreciation for those silent moments, which helped us to formulate and arrange our thoughts so that they were expressed in a structured way. conversations were shifted from the problems of community to the possibility of community.

My highlights were my newly found pool of resources which emanated from the community of practice sessions we had. it was about the inner self – the development was almost tangible as we met and conversed within our circle.

My encounters with my partner have been such pleasant, uplifting, motivating and dynamic experiences. My morale has been boosted. our school has a vision board which constantly reminds us of our vision and plans. We now have professional prospectuses and teacher guides.

Possibility thinking has become the order of the day, using problems as stepping stones and enabling tools to build.

Liezel GordonMetropolitan

hilda Rolls Erica Primary School

Main Pic: Erica prize-giving. From left: Children doing athletics. Strategy session. Vegetable garden. Recycling.

Partners for possibility, the concept, the programme – i salute you.

Our partnerships contribute to the drive towards quality education for all children in South Africa.

Give your child the best chance of a bright future witha Metropolitan Education Plan. Contact 084 724 724.

2928

Partners for Possibility has afforded me the privilege of working alongside a partner who has become the epitome of support and motivation in my pursuit for excellence for my school. My invaluable partnership with belinda keeps alive the possibility of my vision for Silverlea becoming a reality.

The stimulating conversations during our weekly meetings remind me of the quote by Shadonna Richards: ‘believe in the power of possibilities. believe you can accomplish anything you put your mind to.’ belinda listens to my ideas for the school and the broader school community without reminding me of all the supposed challenges associated with them.

Having belinda help me to transfer the vision statement of the school, and my aspirations for the school, to the staff, and getting their ‘buy-in’, has been tremendous. Her facilitating the process, in an objective and supportive manner, in a relaxed and neutral venue, gave them the freedom to speak their mind, express their concerns, and verbalise their vision for the school. This exercise helped us determine exactly what it is they wanted for the school, and together we could plot to establish a collective vision.

i have seen some of the big problems educators face and i have met some fantastic people already stepping up to the challenge.

i believe that as long as our partnership helps Sandy move closer to achieving her goals for Silverlea, we are making a difference.

This programme is really a catalyst, and Sandy and i are committed to work together for as long as it takes. We want to see a shift in the level of stakeholder participation: more teachers who will take responsibility, more parents who want to be actively involved and more community members who see Silverlea as part of their world.

for me, the quarterly workshops we initiated are a tangible ‘product’ of our partnership.

one of Sandy’s objectives is for all the staff of Silverlea to take ownership for achieving excellence in the school.

The workshops give everyone a chance to say what is important to them, so everyone shares and understands the plans that flow from that. They know we will run workshops regularly, and they can use them to share their views and track progress.

Belinda Gaus

SiLVerLeA PRiMARy ScHooL

hci founDATion

Sandy Daniels Silverlea Primary School

Partners for Possibility has exceeded my expectations.

3130

A word from the sponsor

A key outcome is that the whole team agreed we need to draw parents closer to Silverlea. We hosted the first parent get-together in April, with the aim of linking the financial well-being of the parents to the well-being of the school and therefore their children. it felt like a nice start to a big and important focus area for our partnership.

i have learnt a lot! My most significant lesson is that we are all in this together. So if i want any part of my world to be different, no matter how big or small, whether it is education or something else, i need to do my part to bring about change. i need to engage and i need to connect.

Engaging is about caring enough to get stuck in. connecting is about relationships, because people get things done – people hold the answers, and our connections with people will and do change our world.

Lastly, our gestures don’t need to be grand. Starting small will make a difference.

besides my apprehension regarding parental involvement, the fact that our goals are often threatened by a lack of funds is another critical matter. However, thanks to belinda, the possibility of this challenge being eliminated is becoming a reality. belinda has introduced us to bhebhe, a financial advisor, who is in the process of assisting us to develop a five-year financial plan/budget.

being surrounded by a group of such encouraging and enthusiastic people, who form our circle of learning – willing to learn with me and share their wealth of expertise – is an experience every principal should have. The principles and values i learnt during the sessions were phenomenal. of all the courses we have done together, Time to Think has had the greatest impact on me. i often find myself quoting from it and making reference to it. i was reminded that the little issues one takes for granted, such as just listening actively, had been proven to be the ones that could have the greatest impact on relationships, and ultimately the level of productivity.

Belinda GausSandy Daniels Silverlea Primary School

Main Pic: Silverlea learners celebrating WORLD BOOK DAY. From left: Learners dressed up as their favourite book character. Staff photo wall. Sandy talking to the parents. Treeplanting with GreenPop, sponsored by Bloomberg Finance Company.

The HCI Foundation is committed to improving quality education at all levels, and as such it endorses the Partners for Possibility programme, which puts the school at the centre of the community. We believe that the partnership between the principal and the corporate partner creates a space for both individuals to learn from each other and to grow in their personal and professional capacity. The programme has opened doors and formed connections and linkages with other partners, and has set the school on a trajectory that will enrich the learning community and benefit the students in many different ways. It has created a world of possibilities for the school and all those who benefit directly and indirectly from the expanded vision of leadership that the programme engenders.

This brings me to my new motto: engage and connect, connect and engage.

31

3332

When i was asked by Sharon van Schalkwyk to be part of the Partners for Possibility, i immediately agreed. Afterwards, a host of questions flashed through my mind. i looked at this project positively and what it could mean for the institution i am serving.

i could not have asked for a better partner than Elise Malherbe. She is a dedicated and hardworking individual who is always prepared to go the extra mile for our learners. Together we have faced many challenges and due to her positivity and drive we were able to conquer them. Where i saw problems Elise saw solutions.

Elise was passionate about ensuring that the WcED prioritise Thomas Wildschutt as a school in dire need of a new building. She undertook this project with fervour and ensured that the WcED views our school’s infrastructure in a serious light. Her efforts resulted in the WcED agreeing to build a new school in April 2016.

Together we planned and orchestrated a staff development session with our teachers that brought a new dimension to the staffroom. Teachers now see their role in a different light. There is this sense of urgency about their duties as educators.

Thomas Wildschutt Senior (TWS) Primary is an unusual kind of school in the heart of Retreat. charles Jansen, the principal, has been in education for 40 years, and at the helm of TWS for 18. The school’s

student body comprises over 50% refugee learners from all over Africa, including Zimbabwe, Mozambique, the DRc, congo, Rwanda, burundi and Malawi. The school, which was traditionally a predominantly coloured school, started accepting refugees in 1998. Today, potential refugees are already told in their home countries that there is a school in South Africa that will welcome them. Most of the top performers at TWS are refugees and charles has given these children (and their families) a chance to make a fresh start.

before our partnership began there were already many exciting initiatives in the school.

• H.E.L.P (Homework Enrichment Life Skills Programme), which was established by Anna-Marie Kaars Sjipestein, runs a very successful after-school programme at TWS.

• 1 000 Drawings, a huge fundraiser selling A5 drawings and doodles, had TWS as the beneficiary of the cape

Town event and raised about R130 000.

elise Malherbe iLio Energy

charles Jansen Thomas Wildschutt Senior Primary School

i found all of the principal partners to be energetic,

compassionate, and kind.

ThOmAS WiLdSchuTT SEnioR PRiMARy

ScHooL / iLiO EnERGy

AnD AdVANTAge MAnAGEMEnT

conSuLTinG

3534

This money was used for several upliftment projects within the school: Green Pop planted a veggie garden and trees, See Saw Do - with the help of the learners - painted a colourful mural on the school walls and the balance of the money will still be spent in this year

for me the experience of partnering with charles and being part of this incredible circle of individuals surpassed any expectations i had. i am well aware that school life for all the principals in the circle is very tough, like an endless uphill climb sometimes, but i found all of the principal partners to be energetic, compassionate, kind and always retaining a sense of humour.

for me the biggest gift was being part of a circle of incredible, inspirational people who i would probably not otherwise have met. charles specifically is one of the most compassionate, and committed people i know. i have loved getting to know him better and sharing stories and ideas. He has embraced these refugee students and is an example of not taking the easy route. Sitting at the TWS prize-giving i couldn’t help but be hopeful – seeing these amazing kids who overcome great hurdles, who remain motivated and smiling. As charles also said, our PfP journey is far from over.

We are also busy forging links with St George’s Grammar School and bishops.

finally, the workshops that i was fortunate enough to attend made a difference in how i see my role as principal of Thomas Wildschutt, which i regard as my second home.

our partnership with Elise is far from over; we still have a long road ahead. With her support and infectious enthusiasm i foresee great things at Thomas Wildschutt. Her

presence at school has brought about immensely positive change. We cannot thank her enough for the all that she has done for us.

elise Malherbe iLio Energy

charles Jansen Thomas Wildschutt Senior Primary School

Main Pic: Learners of TWS. From left: HELPkids with Anne-Marie. Staff development sessions. Planting trees and the vegetable garden.

i looked at this project positively and what it could mean for the

institution i am serving.

A word from the sponsor

South Africa’s history has left a legacy of structural injustice with many schools still ‘marginalised’. As I’ve sought God’s guidance on specifically where He would direct me to contribute towards justice in SA, I felt directed towards the equalising of educational opportunities by lifting up under resourced schools. I see PfP doing just that in so many ways. I am privileged to make this funding available for you to access this fantastic programme that Symphonia SA has so diligently and intelligently put together. I thank all of you for your unique commitment and diligence in creating a more just future for South Africa.

From our experience, it is clear that Partners for Possibility is an exceptional programme, and we are happy to contribute in a small way to its success. 35

3736

iqra Academy (formerly known as belhar Education centre) was founded by the

islamic Development foundation 14 years ago and is the only islamic high school in the northern suburbs.

We set out to provide an education programme that creates a culture of learning and healthy competitive spirit in a disciplined and nurturing environment; an opportunity for learners to develop their faculties to their full potential; an education practice that is relevant to our learners’ daily lives, which will bring about cultural and social enrichment; a personal leadership development programme for learners to enhance a proactive, principled-centred paradigm; and a platform for our learners to develop a culture of independence and self-reliance.

The focus areas of the partnership with nedbank included the following:

• cohesive teamwork between all staff by establishing a better learning environment

• A leadership programme for learners

• Whole school development plan for 2015 and 2016

Partnering with business has enabled the school to make a change in its education system and make a positive contribution by facilitating and transferring knowledge of Personal Mastery and the value of Lean Methodology, which aims to improve the school environment holistically:

• Enabling strong leadership

• creating a professional support network

• Empowering educators and management

• Motivating, inspiring and supporting learners to achieve success

• facilitating a highly involved parent body and greater community involvement

Shamila Abrahams nedbankmogammat Samodien iqra Academy

Partnering with a principal has enabled the school to make a change in its education system and make a positive contribution by facilitating and transferring knowledge.

iQrA AcADEMy

NedBANk

3938

The partnership achieved the following successes:

• networking enabled the sponsorship of veggie tunnel gardens to all the schools in the circle

• A cohesive management team

• An improved bachelor pass (by 10%)

• improved communication with the community and learners by establishing a facebook blog

• Launch of the new job profile for the educators

• Provision of tools to create a better learning environment for the learner and educator

We developed a more comprehensive and effective management team by structuring the educators into a more cohesive and effective team:

• We redefined the job description for all the educators

• We provided tools like projectors and screens to create a better learning and teaching environment

• We facilitated a professional development programme for teachers to develop critical thinking, and to motivate and inspire learners.

A word from the sponsor

39

We developed a more comprehensive and effective management team.

Nedbank is committed to go beyond the usual business to help achieve a better educational outcome for South Africans. Partnering with the principal of Iqra Academy created a platform for shared learning, to think and act differently in order to achieve the future we all want. Main Pic: Principal addressing students during assembly. From left: Educator Ireen Tanderera engaging the students and

utilizing the projector and screen to improve the learning experience for the students. Partner: Shamila Abrahams and Principal Mogammat Samodien attending the Art of community building workshop.

4140

our School services the underprivileged communities across cape Town, from Khayelitsha to Manenberg, including Mitchell’s Plain and other areas. When i started with Partners for Possibility i thought that it would be a great opportunity to make money for the school. Although there are opportunities for financial gain, that is not what it is about.

in order to effect a turn-around strategy with my school community i needed something special. Little did i know that my partnership with Tony Voges would be just what i needed. Tony, along with candice booysen, the human resource executive at Alacrity, guided our staff in building a values-based school community. our core group that we identified was our educators, who generally are the main drivers at schools.

The workshops that Tony and candice conducted guided staff to review how they interact with each other and what they expect from each other, and to use these values to underpin all school processes and procedures.

Way back in December 2013, as the general manager of professional services for Alacrity Technologies, i signed up to join the Partners for Possibility programme.

i was attracted to the programme because i am a firm believer that education is the single most important aspect for ensuring South Africa fulfils its potential. This programme allowed me to bring my 34 years of business experience gained with companies like Arthur Andersen and Associates, Shell oil company, Metropolitan Employee benefits and Alacrity Technologies to bear on a partnership with a school principal.

i was fortunate to be partnered with faiq Salie, a young, energetic, ambitious and passionate newly appointed principal of Wynberg High School, an arts-focused high school in Wynberg, cape Town.

The two of us clicked immediately – we shared a common view regarding the importance of education to South Africa’s future, and the key role that educators play

in the development of our youth.

faiq introduced me to Wynberg High School and we spent many hours discussing his vision for the school, and his challenges. We decided to focus on what faiq considered to be a real challenge for his school –

Tony VogesAlacrity Technologies

WyNBerg HiGH ScHooL

ALAcriTy TEcHnoLoGiES

faiq Salie Wynberg High School

We share a common view regarding the importance of education to South Africa’s future.

4342

A word from the sponsor

realising its tremendous potential and the urgent need to deliver on its promise to all the young people attending the school. This defined the community that we decided to work with – the educators and support staff at the school. We believed that if we could achieve a change in behaviour, driven by a set of values embraced by all, then the ripple effect of this would benefit the learners, parents and broader community. it was also important that these values be determined via a process that involved all the educators and support staff.

We brought a colleague of mine at Alacrity, candice booysen, into the process and ran four workshops over two Saturdays with groups of educators and support staff. A fifth workshop was held for the handful of educators who weren’t available for the earlier workshops. These facilitated workshops allowed staff to share their personal views and reconnect with each other on a deeper level. Through this process, each group of participants agreed on a set of values that they believed should underpin the Wynberg High School of the future.

A two-part consolidation process followed whereby representatives of all the groups came together and agreed on the five values to be embraced by the school. Each of the five values were then defined in terms of their specific meaning and relevance to the school, and what behaviours were expected to be demonstrated if educators and support staff were embracing the values.

finally, i would like to say that the greatest benefit of this process for me is the ongoing relationship and partnership i have with faiq. i am filled with confidence and hope knowing that we have principled, passionate and energetic people like him active in our education system.

Although we have only just begun to create a school of excellence i feel immensely indebted to Symphonia and Alacrity; and particularly to candice and Tony for sacrificing their weekends and weekdays, and for affording us the privilege of their expertise during all the workshops they conducted. These gave me an opportunity to look at my own shortcomings and empowered me to be a better principal. Transformation requires people who are committed to a common goal, and this is the kind of community that Partners for Possibility has established.

Tony VogesAlacrity Technologies

faiq Salie Wynberg High School

Main Pic: Vieggie Tunnel Sponsored by Nedbank. From left: Group 3 –1st round. 2nd round workshop. WHS dance. Faiq and his daughter at WHS Inter House.

Partners for Possibilities has empowered me to be a better principal.

We at Alacrity deliver key services and solutions to business based on our IT expertise. However we are also serious about giving back to our communities and making a difference in people’s lives. Through our relationship with Partners for Possibility we have been able to demonstrate our commitment to this ideal. We wish to thank Partners for Possibility for coming up with this wonderful initiative and creating this platform which reaches the very fabric of our communities. We have witnessed the difference in the school we partnered with and are very proud to be associated with Wynberg High School and Partners for Possibility.