Khanya Khanya SchoolSchool

Herne Hill School’s sister school Herne Hill School’s sister school & FHHS charity since Autumn & FHHS charity since Autumn

20052005

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

AfricaAfrica

Cape Town

It started in 2004 as a split-off from an It started in 2004 as a split-off from an overcrowded school in Samora Machel, overcrowded school in Samora Machel,

PhilippiPhilippi

Xhosa is the native language in the areaXhosa is the native language in the area

Richard, the Principal, and his Deputy Richard, the Principal, and his Deputy Linda, have been leading it from the Linda, have been leading it from the

outsetoutset

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

reformatoryreformatory

As a result, all children had to come As a result, all children had to come to school by school bus (about 30 to school by school bus (about 30

min. ride)min. ride)

Since Khanya quickly grew to Since Khanya quickly grew to nearly 1’000 “learners”…nearly 1’000 “learners”…

Khanya in Nov. 2005Khanya in Nov. 2005

1 - 71 - 7

6 - 13+6 - 13+

983 learners983 learners

24 educators24 educators0 assistants0 assistants

5 support staff5 support staff

40 - 9040 - 90

GradesGrades

AgeAge

ChildrenChildren

AdultsAdults

Class sizesClass sizes

… … the facilities became vastly the facilities became vastly overcrowded, with frequently 60+ overcrowded, with frequently 60+

children per classroomchildren per classroom

In Jan. 2006, Khanya was moved to the In Jan. 2006, Khanya was moved to the better facilities of a school in the better facilities of a school in the

coloured and much wealthier area of coloured and much wealthier area of Mitchell’s PlainMitchell’s Plain

Buckingham Primary School was relocated because it had Buckingham Primary School was relocated because it had only about 350 learners and was using only one of the only about 350 learners and was using only one of the

school’s two wingsschool’s two wings

Although the children still Although the children still need to be bused to school…need to be bused to school…

… … the facilities are more the facilities are more accessible and much more accessible and much more

spaciousspacious

However, this is not yet Khanya’s long-term However, this is not yet Khanya’s long-term home, which remains an unresolved issuehome, which remains an unresolved issue

The vast majority of children The vast majority of children live in shack dwellings…live in shack dwellings…

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

therefore very poortherefore very poor

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

heatingheating

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

as theseas these

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

uniforms…uniforms…

……and where their learning and where their learning amounts to a beacon of hopeamounts to a beacon of hope

The children work hard and The children work hard and take school seriouslytake school seriously

Typical day for this 7-graderTypical day for this 7-grader

• Get up at 5:30 a.m.Get up at 5:30 a.m.• Eat breakfast, wash, brush Eat breakfast, wash, brush

teeth, put on school uniformteeth, 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 Bus leaves at 7:10 a.m. and

gets to school at 7:40 a.m.gets to school at 7:40 a.m.• School from 8 a.m. to 2:30 School from 8 a.m. to 2:30

p.m.p.m.• Take bus back home, change, Take bus back home, change,

eat, wash disheseat, wash dishes• HomeworkHomework• Watch TV and play with Watch TV and play with

friendsfriends

From Reception through Grade 3, From Reception through Grade 3, teaching is essentially in Xhosa with teaching is essentially in Xhosa with

form teachersform teachers

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

subjectsubject

The children are excellent The children are excellent dancersdancers

They also sing beautifullyThey also sing beautifully

Today, Khanya has about 1’200 Today, Khanya has about 1’200 learners for 30 educators – about five learners for 30 educators – about five times more than Herne Hill for similar times more than Herne Hill for similar

staff numbersstaff numbersKhanyaKhanya

Reception - 7Reception - 7

5 - 13+5 - 13+

1’200 learners1’200 learners

29 educators29 educators5 assistants5 assistants

5 support staff5 support staff

40 - 5540 - 55

Herne HillHerne Hill

Nursery – Year 2Nursery – Year 2

3 – 73 – 7

250 pupils250 pupils

20+ teachers20+ teachers20+ assistants20+ assistants5 support staff5 support staff

14 - 2414 - 24

GradesGrades

AgeAge

ChildrenChildren

AdultsAdults

Class sizesClass sizes

The less needy children eat the packed lunch they bringThe less needy children eat the packed lunch they bring

A major recent improvement is the A major recent improvement is the Dept. of Health’s provision of a hot rice Dept. of Health’s provision of a hot rice

and beans lunch for 680 learnersand beans lunch for 680 learners

The children eat standing or sitting The children eat standing or sitting outsideoutside

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

Herne Hill School’s link with Khanya Herne Hill School’s link with Khanya started in fall 2005 with the help of started in fall 2005 with the help of

School-AidSchool-Aid

www.school-aid.orgwww.school-aid.org

Supporting schools Supporting schools in emerging in emerging

countriescountries

Origin of our relationship with Khanya Primary Origin of our relationship with Khanya Primary SchoolSchool

• Regular requests from parentRegular requests from parent association FHHS to make schoolassociation FHHS to make school in 3in 3rdrd world charity of the year 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-Aidbriefing thereof to School-Aid

• School-Aid visit in Africa identifiesSchool-Aid visit in Africa identifies Khanya as ideal candidate in June 2005Khanya as ideal candidate in June 2005

• FHHS adopt Khanya as charity of the year and FHHS adopt Khanya as charity of the year and launch oflaunch of relationship through visit by Herne Hill School relationship through visit by Herne Hill School DirectorDirector in Nov. 2005in Nov. 2005

From the outset, we felt the Herne Hill From the outset, we felt the Herne Hill children would also greatly benefit from children would also greatly benefit from

this linkthis link• Awareness of their own relative material wealth and Awareness of their own relative material wealth and

thankfulness for what they havethankfulness for what they have

• Realisation that material wealth is not all that Realisation that material wealth is not all that mattersmatters– The Khanya children can be just as talented and happy The Khanya children can be just as talented and happy

in spite of their povertyin spite of their poverty– Friendships and human bonds are also very importantFriendships and human bonds are also very important

• An additional way to experience our “loving, caring” An additional way to experience our “loving, caring” ethos and the satisfaction that comes from helping ethos and the satisfaction that comes from helping and givingand giving

• Important element of becoming “responsible citizens Important element of becoming “responsible citizens of our world community”, together with ecological of our world community”, together with ecological awareness, appreciating nature, etc.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 Appreciation of the importance of education and how seriously the Khanya children take itseriously the Khanya children take it

Our collective efforts are already Our collective efforts are already making a difference at Khanyamaking a difference at Khanya

Support and achievements to dateSupport and achievements to date

• Collection and shipment of used books and stationary Collection and shipment of used books and stationary via School-Aid on containers kindly provided by via School-Aid on containers kindly provided by CapespanCapespan

• Supporting the Reception class when it was formedSupporting the Reception class when it was formed

• Providing curriculum books for the educatorsProviding curriculum books for the educators

• Purchasing a science kitPurchasing a science kit

• Providing emotional supportProviding emotional support

We will briefly look at each of these areasWe will briefly look at each of these areas

Our children’s collections of used books Our children’s collections of used books and stationary, which are shipped via and stationary, which are shipped via

School-Aid, …School-Aid, …

… … have enabled library corners have enabled library corners in every Khanya classroomin every Khanya classroom

We have also sent them curriculum We have also sent them curriculum books, which the educators books, which the educators

appreciate greatlyappreciate greatly

We intend to soon We intend to soon send them the send them the Maths, Literacy Maths, Literacy and Science and Science books for Years 2 books for Years 2 – 6– 6

In 2006, the Friends equipped the newly In 2006, the Friends equipped the newly founded Reception class, for which there founded Reception class, for which there

were no resources whatsoever, with were no resources whatsoever, with furniture…furniture…

… … and all educational and all educational resourcesresources

The Friends also contributed to the The Friends also contributed to the Reception teacher’s salary until it could Reception teacher’s salary until it could

be included in Khanya’s budget from be included in Khanya’s budget from April 2007April 2007

Other support by the Friends Other support by the Friends included buying a science kitincluded buying a science kit

As a result, the dedicated science teacher As a result, the dedicated science teacher now has resources other than blackboard now has resources other than blackboard

and chalkand chalk

Beyond material support, our Beyond material support, our emotional support appears to be emotional support appears to be

just as importantjust as important• ““We thank the learners, parents and educators of We thank the learners, parents and educators of

Herne Hill School from the bottom of our heart – Herne Hill School from the bottom of our heart – not just for your donations and financial help but not just for your donations and financial help but also for your emotional support” also for your emotional support” Richard Richard Nogqala, PrincipalNogqala, Principal

• ““You have brought us hope!” You have brought us hope!” Linda Mahote, Linda Mahote, Deputy PrincipalDeputy Principal

• ““It is reassuring to know that we have friends in It is reassuring to know that we have friends in the UK who care. We’re so lucky to have you!” the UK who care. We’re so lucky to have you!” Sean, Head of DepartmentSean, Head of Department

We are currently evaluating We are currently evaluating various opportunities to further various opportunities to further help Khanya – hopefully, we’ll be help Khanya – hopefully, we’ll be

able to do them all!able to do them all!• Co-fundingCo-funding salaries of 2 unpaid teachers salaries of 2 unpaid teachers for the 2 new Reception for the 2 new Reception

classesclasses

• Establishing Establishing broadbandbroadband connection connection

• Co-funding Co-funding 4 computers and network4 computers and network for management/educators for management/educators

• ““Sponsoring” the Sponsoring” the Khanya choirKhanya choir (60 children from Grades 4-6, (60 children from Grades 4-6, selected for their voices) at next spring’s competitionselected for their voices) at next spring’s competition

• Fostering music through purchase of Fostering music through purchase of mobile keyboardmobile keyboard and funding and funding of periodic lessons by keyboard playerof periodic lessons by keyboard player

• Helping establish a Helping establish a majorettes/”drummies” clubmajorettes/”drummies” club through purchase through purchase of 2of 2ndnd hand uniform and boots hand uniform and boots

• Supporting Supporting eyeglasses schemeeyeglasses scheme for needy children for needy children

• Establishing Establishing bursary schemebursary scheme for small number of Grade 7 leavers for small number of Grade 7 leavers who would be supported and followed through secondary schoolwho would be supported and followed through secondary school

• Visits by Dominik to all Pre-Prep classes to Visits by Dominik to all Pre-Prep classes to talk about Khanya Schooltalk about Khanya School

• Broadband should greatly improve e-mail Broadband should greatly improve e-mail communication and exchange of digital communication and exchange of digital picturespictures

• Class twinning between our three Year 2 Class twinning between our three Year 2 and their three Grade 4 classesand their three Grade 4 classes– Agreed schedule of correspondence exchange at Agreed schedule of correspondence exchange at

least once per half-term for next yearleast once per half-term for next year– Our Year 1 classes (this autumn’s Year 2s) plan to Our Year 1 classes (this autumn’s Year 2s) plan to

start already in Junestart already in June

We are also working on increasing We are also working on increasing the feedback flow to our childrenthe feedback flow to our children

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

… … confident, …confident, …

… … studious, …studious, …

… … responsible, …responsible, …

… … happy, …happy, …

… … and lively …and lively …

… … boys …boys …

… … and girlsand girls

They deserve and appreciate our They deserve and appreciate our helphelp

Thank you so muchThank you so muchfor supporting them!for supporting them!