On Thursday, May 30, 2024, SOS Africa Charity Founder Matt Crowcombe was given the honor of cutting the ribbon at the official launch of a pre-primary school campus at HS Grabouw in the Western Cape. The newly constructed facility will offer both Grade R English and Afrikaans language education, a first for the school.
The highly anticipated event was attended by the school’s teaching staff, governing body, education officials from the Overberg District Office, and parents of the children benefitting from this exciting initiative. Attendees were given a tour of the campus, introduced to the teachers, and treated to special performances by the children in their new classrooms.
SOS Africa partnered with HS Grabouw back in 2014, making it the first school in the Western Cape to collaborate with the charity. Thanks to the success of this partnership, the charity has expanded to partner with 12 schools, sponsoring 107 children in the region. This number is expected to grow significantly in the coming years. Additionally, SOS Africa Education Centres provide reading and writing programs for hundreds of children with learning difficulties every morning.
As part of this ambitious project, SOS Africa purchased two new classrooms and fencing with funds raised from last year’s King Alfred’s Tower Charity Abseil. Grade R education is now mandatory across South Africa and serves as a crucial foundation for a child’s education, building their confidence and enabling them to socialize with children from different age groups.
SOS Africa Founder Dr. Matt Crowcombe is especially pleased with the school’s decision to offer English language education at a pre-primary level:
“The introduction of English language education for children starting at the age of six allows HS Grabouw to provide a higher standard of education that is accessible to children from various cultural and socioeconomic backgrounds. Making quality education available to all is one of the central objectives of our charity’s education projects in the region.”
In January, SOS Africa sponsored six Xhosa-speaking Grade R students from disadvantaged backgrounds and enrolled them in HS Grabouw’s new Grade R program. SOS Africa Education Centre Assistant, Sinazo Nogqala, is delighted with the progress made by these children:
“Since joining our Grade R program, the children have flourished! When we first met them last year, most of them struggled to understand English, let alone read or pronounce English words. Less than six months later, our fastest learners are now taking English language books home to read over the weekend.”
HS Grabouw Principal Ralston Parnell is extremely grateful for the opportunities provided by the school’s 10-year collaboration with SOS Africa:
“We at HS Grabouw are filled with gratitude for not only the sponsorship from SOS Africa but also the partnership for the past 10 years. The commitment from SOS Africa to provide better opportunities for previously disadvantaged children and to improve the quality of teaching is truly admirable. It is a privilege to acknowledge SOS Africa as a friend of our school and community.”
