This project was founded in 2004 to support children in need living in the Township Sir Lowry’s Pass Village near Cape Town. Through a children’s village, kindergarten, school as well as school sponsorship programmes the project seeks to improve the living situation and educational opportunities of local children living in poverty.
In a first step, the only local kindergarten, which had been closed for many years, was renovated and reopened in 2004. Today, it caters for about 120 children aged two to 5 years and allows them a carefree but educating time under the guidance of trained educators to prepare them for school. In 2009, a “children’s village” was built. Here, 25 AIDS orphans as well as neglected and abused children have found a new home. The children’s village is inspired by the care model of the SOS Children’s Villages, i.e. the houses are run by “house parents” who live there with their own and foster children.
In 2011, the project opened a primary school – the classrooms were housed in discarded shipping containers for the first few years, and the new school building was completed in early 2017. In the meantime, over 400 children aged 6 to 12 are taught here from pre-school to grade 7. In March 2019, the first classrooms of the high school were completed and today the high school is teaching up to matric. Further plans include the expansion of the sports programme and the establishment of a vocational training centre where graduates of the school can be prepared for various artisan and technical professions to improve their chances on the labour market.
All facilities of the project are accredited by the South African Department of Education and Social Welfare. The project is extensively supported by funding associations in Germany, Great Britain and Switzerland.
A teaching internship in this project allows you a deep insight into the South African education system and you are able to collect practical experience in teaching multilingual classes.