Education

Supporting the achievement of excellence in secondary school education for disadvantaged South African children

Since 2005 the Cadiz Foundation has supported 10 Kids Foundation scholars by providing long-term bursary support to enable these motivated scholars to access quality secondary schooling educational opportunities and realize their obvious potential.

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Overview

The KIDS Foundation was established in 1994 to create excellent educational opportunities for economically disadvantaged South African children. Our vision is to mentor motivated scholars in high schools helping them to achieve their potential in all areas of development enabling them ultimately to contribute to the present and future of South Africa.

The Kids Foundation provides a comprehensive programme aimed at supporting motivated secondary school scholars achieve well by:

  • Providing opportunities for good quality education to learners who have the potential and the will to succeed.
  • Motivating and supporting these children to achieve excellence academically and in all other aspects of their education.
  • Mentoring them and their families and provide support where the need arises.
  • Encouraging the creativity, leadership and good self esteem necessary to help build a prosperous and healthy nation.

NEED - The problems and effects

With the dynamic political changes taking place in South Africa in the early 1990’s South African schools were opened to all race groups. Although many learners from disadvantaged communities, ambitious for their education, wanted to attend top Model C schools (previously for white children) which were well-equipped and had excellent facilities in contrast to township schools which had suffered under the destructive Bantu Education of the apartheid era, they could not meet the demand of school fees. The KiDS Foundation was established to enable these learners, by paying their school fees, to attend the top schools. Our first learner from Langa was enrolled at Wynberg Boys Junior School in April 1994, the same month and year in which South Africa celebrated its first democratic election.

STRATEGY - How to meet the need

  • A KiDS scholarship is granted on an annual basis i.e. scholars have to work hard each year to maintain their scholarships for the duration of high school.
  • A Code of Conduct is signed by the scholar when awarded a scholarship. They are encouraged to see this as a contract for which they have to be accountable.
  • Close communication between the trustees and the scholar, their families, schools and teachers is maintained because a personal relationship is vital to ensure mentorship and monitoring of progress. Communication is maintained between scholars and trustees via newsletters, phone calls, letters, SMS and email (many of them have an email address at school).
  • The scholar must have one responsible parent or guardian who is dedicated to the child’s educational future. The Foundation encourages the parent to make decisions regarding their child’s education but will assist where necessary.
  • The parent will ensure the child’s regular school attendance and will, to whatever extent possible, be responsible for funding part of their child’s education eg. textbooks, uniforms, transport, extra-murals etc. The Foundation does assist, at the trustees’ discretion, in some of these areas when necessary.
  • Scholarships are awarded not only on merit and genuine financial need but to those who show a commitment to hard work and achievement – academic excellence and leadership are encouraged as well as achievements in sports, art, music, debating and any other creative or cultural activities.
  • The Foundation will, if necessary, fund any academic or extra-mural activities that will be to the child’s benefit eg. extra lessons in subjects such as maths, sciences and language, computer classes, remedial lessons, school camps and sports tours.
  • Progress reports are sent to the trustees by the schools twice a year. These are monitored and responded to on an individual basis. Efforts are rewarded and recognized and problems and poor results dealt with sensitively.
  • Trustees take an interest in the scholars’ sports and cultural activities – sports matches, prizegivings, school plays etc. are often attended.
  • Each year functions, outings, a lifeskills camp and an end-of-year gathering are held to bring the KIDS Foundation “family” closer together.
  • A KIDS Foundation scholarship is not a bursary that has to be paid back. KIDS graduates remain part of the KIDS Foundation family and pledge to support a KIDS scholar financially one day in the future when they themselves are successful as a result of the opportunity that they were given.

WHY THE KiDS ‘MODEL’ WORKS

  • The personal relationship with scholars and their families ensures accountability and the opportunity for constant monitoring and mentorship. A former educator is employed on a full-time basis to liaise with scholars, their families and their schools.
  • Scholars are selected not only on merit but on their work ethic, ambitions, interests and goals. They are encouraged to set short, medium and long term goals and to appraise these constantly.
  • A full-time fundraiser ensures that projects and fundraising are on the go constantly to provide sustainability.
  • Functions and outings ensure that the KiDS scholars get to know each other and feel part of the KiDS family.
  • Our treasurer keeps a tight rein on finances and ensures that every cent is meaningfully spent. Annual audits are conducted and financial records meticulously kept. Administrative expenses are kept to a minimum (18%) and the remainder (82%) is spent directly on the scholars, their school fees and their welfare. Audited financial statements are available for all donors.
  • Staying within the constitution of the Deed of Trust, flexibility and re-appraisal of what works and what does not is essential for growth, sustainability and development. For example we have worked with over 50 schools since 1994 but in the last two years have narrowed it down to approximately 15 schools – this facilitates better communication, administration and mentoring of the scholars.
  • The Code of Conduct ensures that the scholar understands the terms on which the scholarship is awarded.
  • Trustees’ meetings are held once a term and minutes are kept of all meetings and action to be taken.

Expected life change:

It costs us approximately R10,000.00 to educate a learner for a year. (Some learners are at schools which cost a little more and some less so costs per learner average out at about R10,000.00 each). Besides school fees, funds are needed for extras such as textbooks, stationery, extra lessons, sports tours, leadership camps, uniforms and transport for scholars whose parents genuinely cannot afford these extras. Other costs per scholar are for newsletters, postage, outings, functions and gifts and pastoral care given by the trustee appointed to care for them. The Cadiz Foundation’s support has enable us to provide for 10 scholars for the past three years.

Where are our graduates now?

Although a KiDS Foundation scholarship ends when a scholar matriculates from Grade 12 in high school, graduates are inducted into the OLD KiDS SOCIETY and contact is maintained through email, letters, phone calls and visits. Old KiDS have pledged to support a scholar at some time in the future when they are successful so maintaining contact is a key ingredient in holding the Old KiDS Society together. It is also important to track the future success of our graduates to assess the outcome of our investment in their lives.

Since 1994 we have altogether provided education for 178 scholars and students (in the 1990’s we provided some tertiary scholarships and hope to do this again in the future). In 2007 we are supporting 98 scholars in various schools and of the 80 who have left 56 are matric, college or university graduates, 7 left because their parents’ financial situation improved, 6 moved away (e.g one went back to live with his family in Limpopo Province, another to live with her granny in the Transkei), 8 were awarded other scholarships (at either private schools or colleges overseas) and two very tragically died. Only one scholar in our 13 year history has had her scholarship withdrawn due to suspension from school.

Briefly this is where some of our graduates are:

  • Chad and Thobela are in final year B. Accounting at UCT
  • Lulu has completed a three year course in fashion design
  • Florence obtained a degree in Social Work at UWC and now works at Langa Social Services
  • Thina is studying advertising at the AAA School
  • Boitumelo is in his 5th year Medicine at UCT
  • William is studying electrical engineering
  • Patrick is working at BP to raise funds to study Drama at UCT
  • Sandra obtained a 4 year degree in IT from Tshwane University and works in Johannesburg
  • Amanda is completing a degree in public relations
  • Sheridan is studying Biokinetics at UPE
  • Margaret obtained a diploma in Preschool Education and has opened a preschool in Philippi
  • Melissa joined Woolworths and is now studying marketing and merchandising
  • Janine is in 2nd year B Accounting at the University of Stenllenbosch
  • Annah is studying for a B Comm degree at a college in the USA
  • Emma is completing her 2nd year at Atlantic College in Wales, UK
  • Haanim is taking a gap year and will apply for Medicine at UCT next year
  • Funeka is at UWC studying for a B Ed degree
  • Sizwe is studying journalism at UWC
  • Shen completed a Business Studies/Secretarial course and is working in Cape Town
  • Mandy is working for a company but studying Law at UNISA at the same time
  • Nisa is working for a company in Claremont completeing his B Comm degree through UNISA
  • Sisonke is studying Music at UCT
  • Waldo completed a bookkeeping course and is now working for Pick ‘n Pay
  • Cindy is teaching at her old primary school
  • Odwa is studying IT at Varsity College
  • Miranda studied human resources and is now working for a major hospital
  • Glynis is now a preschool teacher
  • Azhar is studying Law at UWC
  • Acama is studying property law and conveyancing at UNISA while working for a law firm
  • Valnev obtained a Law degree (BA LLB) from UPE