Ethekwini Junior Primary’s principal, Ms G C Zulu can’t wait to get started: “We are going to extend the principal’s office because we don’t have an admin block. Our drive way needs to be paved urgently because the learners get dirtied by mud when they walk to their classrooms.”

Mr. Johanne Sambulo Khalala, the principal of Ekuthuleni Primary School said: “We have decided to buy paint to renovate our school. And when we have finished the painting, we would like to buy floor tiles for the admin building because the tiles that we currently have are broken.”

Mrs. Lindiwe Khethiwe Sibiya, the principal of Dumani Junior Primary said: “We would like to fix the school’s roof because nine of our classrooms are leaking and it’s almost winter. Then we would also like to buy paint to beautify our school.”

At the official Cashbuild Kwa Mashu Store Opening Ceremony on 19 April, when the building material vouchers totaling R96 000 were presented to all eight schools, the children entertained everyone with singing, cultural dances and theatrical performances.

The Cashbuild Art-at-Heart competition entails learners from each school submitting their best artwork to Cashbuild. This artwork is displayed at the ceremony, and then remains on display in the Cashbuild store for the next five years. Artwork was judged and three winners from each school were named. Winners received Cashbuild Art-at-Heart gold, silver and bronze certificates for first, second and third place respectively. The Manager’s Choice award was also presented to the lucky winner, Thango Njabulo from Phuthumani Primary School, for the artwork competition. This award was announced on the day and the winner received a stationery pack and a glass trophy.

The schools and children that benefited from the Cashbuild Art-at-Heart donations were:

• Ekuthuleni Primary

Gold Award        Siyabonga Sikhakhane

Silver Award       Luyanda Sosibo

Bronze Award   Phumlani Langa

• Phuthumani Primary

Gold Award        Sanele Mchunu

Silver Award       Ntokozo Zulu

Bronze Award   Scelo Zulu

• Dukemini Primary

Gold Award        Pamela Mdluli

Silver Award       Aphelele Mgwaba

Bronze Award   Mdletshe Ntando

• Gobhogobho Junior Primary

Gold Award        Nqobile Mkhwanazi

Silver Award       Wandiswa Jili

Bronze Award   Nhlakanipho Mehlo

• Zamokuhle Junior Primary

Gold Award        Amanda Mbambo

Silver Award       Tsepo Mebele

Bronze Award   Fezeka Dubazane

• Ngazana Junior Primary

Gold Award        Sinikiwe Mkhize

Silver Award       Siyabonga Masuku

Bronze Award   Nondumiso Malongo

• Ethekwini Junior Primary

Gold Award        Thubalakhe Myeza

Silver Award       Mlamuli Shandu

Bronze Award   Khulani Ngcobo

• Dumani Junior Primary

Gold Award        Nosipho Mkhize

Silver Award       Ntobeko Shabangu

Bronze Award   Nandipha Madiba
Since the Art-at-Heart campaign was launched ten years ago, Cashbuild has helped more than 1 200 schools with over R12-million worth of building materials. Cashbuild is BEE compliant and every time a store is opened, relocated or refurbished, Cashbuild not only makes donations to local schools, but also creates jobs for community members.

The Art-at-Heart competition is a Southern African Cashbuild initiative whereby donations are made to some of the region’s most needy schools.

Jonathan Riley, Head of Sales, Broadcasting and Media for the well known sports marketing and engagement agency, said that the “response from our African partner broadcasters, has been overwhelmingly positive.  There is exceptional interest in the 2012 Olympic games underlining the power of sport as an entertainment and communication medium across Africa”.

The awarding of the broadcast rights to Octagon heralded a new approach for the IOC in this region.  “Octagon’s commitment to the world’s principal sports rights holders to create innovative pan-African rights and media sales models, meshes with the IOC’s vision and objectives for Africa. Our passion for production, distribution and integration of media, in partnership with Africa’s free-to-air broadcasters, delivers a mass-audience platform and genuine value to all stakeholders” stated Riley.

Octagon’s continued growth and presence in three of the key economic hubs in Africa gives the organisation unique knowledge and insight. With Africa’s free-to-air broadcasters remaining one of the world’s largest markets for many of the world’s biggest brands, it is precisely this commitment, insight and innovative approach which has won Octagon the coveted role as official broadcast rights holder for the 2012 Olympic Games.

As a result Octagon will reinforce the IOC’s drive “to ensure that the widest possible audience has access to the London 2012 Olympic Games” confirmed the IOC.  “We are delighted to have reached this agreement with Octagon” commented IOC President Jacques Rogge  and it is clearly an arrangement that is already bearing fruit with the signing of these particular contracts.

Prizes include a PEP Academy for the school worth R700 000, a Library-in-a-Box set plus a share of R30 000 for the teachers and R15 0000 in vouchers for learners.

PEP’s flagship Corporate Social Investment (CSI) programme is focused on primary school learners by giving them extra literacy and numeracy tuition to help them become better pupils and enjoy more success in their learning and future lives.  As South Africa’s largest single brand retailer and one that sells more than half of all school uniforms, PEP is keen to  help champion teachers – and learning at school – by creating and sponsoring the Teacher of the Year Award.

Details about the competition and how to enter are available in-store at PEP or on the website:  www.pepstores.com.  Entries close on 4 May 2012. To enter the competition, the school children need to include their name and contact number, their grade, the name of their school and, of course, the name of their favourite teacher.

The winning project – one that most benefitted local residents through an  improved urban environment – was founded in 2007 in a mother’s home.  Mothers Unite provides a safe haven from the gangsterism, drugs and violence  that are part and parcel of street and home life in the area. Three afternoons a  week, in an infrastructure village in the grounds of the City’s Seawinds Multi-  purpose Hall,  120 children between the ages of three and 15 are provided with  alternatives such as storytelling, computer literacy, food garden training, art  therapy, sports and play. Built with donated shipping containers, the village is  made up of a library, kitchen, office, sheltered area, playground and food  garden. The Mothers Unite project addresses the family unit and encourages
family participation and a shared commitment to community development, providing a support base for the family and a safe place for children to play, explore and develop.

The Urban Age Award celebrates creative solutions to the problems and opportunities facing urban dwellers. It seeks to encourage citizens and all urban stakeholders to take a proactive role in creating shared responsibility for the cities of the 21^st century – mankind’s first truly ‘urban age’.  The award, which comes during a tough economic crisis, serves not only as welcome funding for Mothers Unite but also as widespread recognition for what they have already achieved against great odds. They plan to obtain further educational resources for after-school programmes, revamp the playground, add to their toy and book libraries and purchase better kitchen equipment and nutritional ingredients for the children’s meals. They would like to buy a vehicle to overcome their biggest operational obstacle and be able to offer a small stipend to volunteers who have worked tirelessly. Prize money will also allow the organisation to purchase stationery and equipment for Emergency First Aid Response courses, and contribute to 160 computer literacy courses and 80 home garden start-ups to broaden their great work in Lavender Hill.

The REDISA plan, as now gazette, is substantially the same as the version that was approved in November 2011 with some clarifications and procedural amendments, which have been added following input from the tyre manufacturers and original equipment manufacturers (OEM) importers. The full plan can be viewed on the REDISA website - as well as on the Government Gazette website.  REDISA welcomes public participation in the process as it is the citizens of the country who will ultimately benefit from the implementation of the plan.

The REDISA plan’s approval was withdrawn in January this year to correct a procedural error in the original notice of gazetting for comment in July 2011, though there was no issue with the plan itself.

Notes and background

The REDISA plan is industry independent and meets all Government requirements for handling the waste tyre problem in a sustainable manner.  Further and importantly, the REDISA plan fosters and generates new business and employment opportunities in line with Government imperatives.  This plan includes the informal sector (for example, those people who burn tyres to access scrap metal to scrape together a living).

PEP Academy results summary 2008 – 2011

• Average percentage point improvement in literacy scores:  24%;
• Average percentage point improvement in numeracy scores: 13%.

Pass rates reported by academy learners 2011:

• Average pass rates in English Grade 4: 90%
• Average pass rates mathematics 88%

(Note:   the 2011 Annual National Assessment reports that Grade 3s in South Africa scored an average of 35% for literacy and 28% for numeracy; Grade 6 learners scored an average of 28% for languages and 30% for maths).

The Academies, which were first opened in 2008, have provided 6 400 learners with extra tuition in literacy and numeracy – the building blocks of education – as well as specialised training for 80 teachers.  As a free supplementary education initiative, the PEP Academy is not a mere corporate social investment (although it is PEP’s flagship) whereby money is given to some worthy cause.  Rather, the PEP Academy has been designed to meet specific and important needs because, in four years, it has consistently notched up impressive results and proves how vital this intervention is.  And, while the PEP Academy is a testimony to good corporate effort, the initiative has even greater merit because, working as it does within the existing education system, it can also be supported by any businesses wishing to adopt the model as their own.

PEP managing director, Leon Lourens says:  “Most of the academy learners are children of people who cannot afford school fees at all or any additional education.  We are not only helping to promote good results and an enthusiasm for school but we’re helping to keep kids at school and off the streets by providing a safe and caring environment for them with this supplementary education initiative.  It ticks a lot of social ills boxes and we are really proud to be able to contribute something worthwhile – something that can be measured and tracked and something that is making a positive difference.”

When the initiative was launched in 2008, the Department of Education (DoE) endorsed it fully and also stated that, rather than throwing money at an arbitrary corporate social investment project, PEP had identified a real need and was investing in addressing that need.

The PEP Academy is run by social investment agency, Social Innovations.  The curriculum runs in all ten schools from 14h30 until 16h30 on three afternoons a week and all the children are given a snack (e.g. a sandwich, a piece of fruit and a fruit juice) before their lessons start.

Grade 5 reading programme pilot

To help sustain the learning gained in Grade 4, a custom-made library-based programme has been launched in two Bloemfontein schools where the PEP Academy runs already.  The ‘Reading Alive’ programme aims to inspire a love of reading while further building the reading competence of Grade 5 learners.  If successful, the pilot will be extended to all PEP Academies nationally.  The library contains 50 books with teacher guides and learner workbooks and the aim is that all learners will have read and worked through all 50 books during the year

Parents’ attitudes

Last month, PEP ran an informal survey using its free messaging service, PEPtxt, to find out more about parents’ attitudes towards education.   In answer to the question about what will help keep their children at school, the overall response was that support, encouragement, involvement and engagement were crucial.  Nearly 200 respondents commented on this issue, for example:  “encourage them to do better and be more understanding instead of judgmental” and “give full support, help with homework or assignments and participate in school meetings.”

Several parents also said they should listen to their children more and try to support them in whatever they desire so that they could “be free to learn more”.

Commenting on the PEPtxt survey responses, Leon Lourens said it was heartening to hear that parents believe it’s important to help enthuse and encourage children about their schoolwork.  “This can only have a positive impact on the child’s success at school and help make them more confident learners”.

Notes                                                                                                                            

1. A DVD showcasing the programme can be viewed on both these sites:

PEP Academy

www.socialinnovations.co.za

1. Social Innovations employs an academy manager in each school, who works very closely with the school management team, teachers and governing body to ensure the programme is successful.
2. PEP is South Africa’s largest single brand retailer with 1 450 stores and employs 12 500 people.

TEDxYouth@CapeTown will be hosted on 26 May 2012, 09:00-13:00, at the Two Oceans Aquarium and anyone who believes they relate to the ‘Africa in Me’ (AIM) theme and would like to speak or even attend and are between the ages of 12 and 18 should apply by sending through a short paragraph about yourself and what AIM means to you.

Please note:  The closing date for speaker applications is 3 May 2012 and the closing date to be a part of the audience is 11 May. To apply, please write to grethe@tedxcapetown.org

About TEDxYouth@CapeTown:  young people around the world are raising their voices in a unique way – from political activism, environmental warriors and social justice seekers to performance poets, writers and artists reclaiming urban spaces. They have the power to be the change they want to see in their world and TEDxYouth@CapeTown aims to help them realise this so that they can live this potential.  TEDxYouth@CapeTown wants to bring together the youth – the thinkers, the lovers and the doers – in Cape Town.

At the TEDxYouth@CapeTown event, TED TALKS videos from across the world and live youth speakers from across the Cape Town area will combine to spark discussion, inspire and engage around the 2012 TEDxYouth@CapeTown theme AIM: Africa In Me.

About TEDx: TEDx is a programme of local, self-organized events that bring people together to share “ideas worth spreading”. www.ted.com

Dorcus Maphanga, the principal of Tekwane Primary School said: “The paving at the school needs to be fixed as soon as possible. The learners need to make their way to class through slippery mud. They have to tread carefully because their shoes are muddy or they have to take them off.” Each school will receive a voucher to the value of R12 000 from Cashbuild which will go towards buying building materials to improve their school.

Anderson Charles, principal of Nelsville Combined School is very worried about the current state of security at his school. He said: “We would like to enhance security at the school by completing a brick wall. If we have the wall completed we can control access to the school by preventing the sale of illegal substances and also holding out the drunks from the shebeen opposite the school.”

At the official Cashbuild Nelspruit Plaza store opening ceremony on 12 April, when the building material vouchers totaling R96 000 were presented to all eight schools, the children entertained everyone with singing, cultural dances and theatrical performances.

The Cashbuild Art-at-Heart competition entails learners from each school submitting their best artwork to Cashbuild. This artwork is displayed at the ceremony, and then remains on display in the Cashbuild store for the next five years.

Artwork will be judged and three winners from each school will be named. Winners will receive Cashbuild Art-at-Heart gold, silver and bronze certificates for first, second and third place respectively. The Manager’s Choice award was presented to Zandisiwe Hlope in the artwork competition. This award was announced on the day and the winner received a stationery pack and a glass trophy.

The schools that benefited from the Cashbuild Art-at-Heart donations are:

• Valencia Combined School

Gold Award:               Hope Khoza

Silver Award:             Aisha Halalat

Bronze Award:          Mlondi Malaza

• Laeveld Laer Skool

Gold Award:               Alexander Boswell

Silver Award:             Ryna Meyer

Bronze Award:          Ashaan Sebastian

• Laerskool Nelspruit

Gold Award:               Larisa Combrink

Silver Award:             Lene Jacobs

Bronze Award:          Lourese Kempen

• Nelsville Combined School

Gold Award:               Wandike Sibayoni

Silver Award:             Charity Maoto

Bronze Award:          Refilwe Thibela

• Tekwane Primary School

Gold Award:               Thabang Matloa

Silver Award:             Sandile Nkosi

Bronze Award:          Precious Simelane

• Laerskool Bergland

Gold Award:               Cobus Viljoen

Silver Award:             Adriaan Swart

Bronze Award:          Hijke Coetzee

• Nelspruit Primary School

Gold Award:               Londiwe Hlatshwayo

Silver Award:             Venus Gaambrah

Bronze Award:          Nokubonga Sandleni

• Kamagugu Inclusive School

Gold Award:               Tshiamo Mkhumbane

Silver Award:             Mthobisi Nkosi

Bronze Award:          Zama Mngomezulu

Since the Art-at-Heart campaign was launched eleven years ago, Cashbuild has helped more than 1 200 schools with over R12-million worth of building materials. Cashbuild is BEE compliant and every time a store is opened, relocated or refurbished, Cashbuild not only makes donations to local schools, but also creates jobs for community members.

The Art-at-Heart competition is a southern African Cashbuild initiative whereby donations are made to some of the region’s most needy schools.

Located in Cape Town’s bustling design hub and opposite the Cape Quarter in De Waterkant, the new Hansgrohe Aquademie for designer taps and showers, celebrates urban living at its best and was opened by Siegfried Gaensslen, CEO of Hansgrohe SE, and Anthony Mederer, Managing Director Hansgrohe Africa.

The Hansgrohe Aquademie – as other of the company’s outlets in Europe, Asia and America are also named – is a place where water, wisdom and the world of wellbeing meet.  Here visitors (the public, designers, architects and developers), can immerse themselves among the very best and latest design offerings and experience, at first hand, Hansgrohe’s commitment to sustainability and innovation.  Choosing a product is not as simple as turning on a tap these days; it’s more about how it feels.  The flow rate, how tactile the product is and how the product and the water combine in a creative way are all factors that need to be considered so that the user enjoys and appreciates the aesthetics as well as the practicality of the product. The Aquademie provides all this and more.

As well as showcasing the renowned high-quality Axor range that has been developed with some of the world’s leading designers and architects, the Hansgrohe Aquademie is also the perfect backdrop for the more value-based Focus range.  While retaining the trademark design elements, such as the eco-smart technology (especially important for Africa’s environmental sustainability), ranges like Hansgrohe’s Focus are growing in popularity throughout the world and especially in Africa.

As the importance of water culture grows, more Hansgrohe Aquademies are planned for South Africa and Africa with the next due to open in Johannesburg 2012.

Bena Audrey Mathebula, principal of Ntsie Primary School, expressed her gratitude when she learnt that she was one of eight schools that were chosen as winners in the Art-at-heart competition. ”We have so many ideas about what to do with the voucher, but right now, we have a burning need for a kitchen to serve the nutritional needs of our learners who go through the day not having eaten a full meal”.

Each school will receive a voucher to the value of R12 000 from Cashbuild which will go towards buying building materials to improve their school.

Patrick Khutso Mokoena, principal of Dilayi Primary School was filled with excitement when he told us about the plans his school has made with their donation. He said: “Following the flash floods caused by heavy rains in the area, the school ground was damaged and as a result, no vehicles have access to our school. “We would like to buy bricks and cement to pave the school ground. And when that has been completed we would also love to fix the ramshackle toilets so that the learners have hygienic facilities to make use of.”

Meanwhile, Mrs. Jullian.B Ndoweni, principal of Sediba SA Thuto Primary School has grown tired of waiting on government to heed the school’s call for proper nutrition and was ecstatic upon hearing the news of her school’s win. “Our children come from poor backgrounds; their parents cannot afford to pack lunch for their children on a daily basis. Sadly, we see how the impact of hunger affects the learners’ ability to learn, so we have decided to build a kitchen from our Cashbuild voucher.”

At the official Cashbuild Bushbuckridge store opening ceremony on 15 March, when the building material vouchers totaling R96 000 will be presented to all eight schools, the children will entertain everyone with singing, cultural dances and theatrical performances.

The Cashbuild Art-at-Heart competition entails learners from each school submitting their best artwork to Cashbuild. This artwork is displayed at the ceremony, and then remains on display in the Cashbuild store for the next five years.

Artwork will be judged and three winners from each school will be named. Winners will receive Cashbuild Art-at-Heart gold, silver and bronze certificates for first, second and third place respectively. The Manager’s Choice award will also be presented to the lucky winner of the artwork competition. This award will be announced on the day and the winner will receive a stationery pack and a glass trophy. The schools that will benefit from the Cashbuild Art-at-Heart donations are:

• Twalakule Primary School          
• Ntsie Primary School
• Sediba SA Thuto Primary School
• Dilayi Primary School
• Mathule Primary School
• Nkwenkwezi Primary School
• S.H Nyalunga Primary School
• Boikutso Primary School
  

Since the Art-at-Heart campaign was launched ten years ago, Cashbuild has helped more than 1 200 schools with over R12-million worth of building materials. Cashbuild is BEE compliant and every time a store is opened, relocated or refurbished, Cashbuild not only makes donations to local schools, but also creates jobs for community members.

The Art-at-Heart competition is a southern African Cashbuild initiative whereby donations are made to some of the region’s most needy schools.