2024: A Year of Positive Change

2024 Highlights: The incredible difference you’re making

Constantia Primary School

“Our main focus remains the improvement in educational outcomes, particularly in reading, writing, numeracy and developing our learners holistically. We are proud to announce that your assistance contributed to our grade 1-7 overall pass percentage of 94,7% for 2024.” (Note: this is up from the 2023 overall pass rate of 92.8%) – Alastair Adams, principal

Anna Foundation

Turning the Tide on the Literacy Crisis: Pilot Project at a Rural School

Earlier this year the Anna Foundation launched an exciting reading intervention project at one of our rural schools in the Langeberg. The project involves Anna Foundation facilitators, in close partnership with the school, implementing targeted reading activities with pairs of Grade 1 to 3 learners during school time. Our internal assessments in the first part of the year made it clear that most of the learners were reading well below grade level and many still struggled with basic phonemic awareness. Our educational team designed interactive, small group intervention programmes targeting the specific literacy needs of these learners, and trained local women as facilitators of this project. We employed these women to work at the school on a daily basis, rotating learners in pairs in order to reach as many learners as possible. With this intervention programme, we aim to gradually close the gap between these learners current and required grade reading levels within the next 2 years. Our follow up assessment in November illustrates that many learners (specifically those in Grade 1) have already significantly improved their phonemic awareness and reading ability.

Anne Pienaar Gedenk Primer

“The appointment of Ms Appollus made an incredible difference in so many children’s lives. The help the children get through the LITPRO programme (to improve reading speed and reading comprehension) is changing lives. All the children on the programme showed a significant improvement in their grades. It certainly would not have been possible without her extra two hands. She is an excellent English teacher and distinguishes herself in the way she gets to know the children. Many children with problems will go to her for help and guidance. Help that is of inestimable value in the socio-economic circumstances in which many of the learners find themselves. She is known for standing up for every child.” – Annemarie Duvenhage, principal

The Pebbles Early Childhood Development (ECD) Programme

The Pebbles Mobile Resource Learning Centre allows our educators to provide even greater support to children who face barriers to learning, ensuring they have access to valuable educational resources. For children experiencing challenges such as limited access to formal education or learning disabilities, having mobile, tailored support is crucial for their development. The Mobile Resource Learning Centre brings much-needed opportunities for engagement and learning, helping to break down barriers and promote inclusive education for all children.

Age group: 2.5 – 5 years

Number of beneficiaries: 331

Number of practitioners: 36

De Rust Futura Academy

Overall Outcomes

The funding from the Cape Wine Auction Trust has significantly transformed our school community.  We have observed:

• Increased learner engagement and enthusiasm for learning.
• Improved emotional well-being among learners, leading to better classroom behaviour and social interactions.
• Stronger partnerships with families, fostering a supportive community around our learners.
• Increase in academic results.

Lynedoch Community School

Despite incredible advances in learner confidence and engagement, literacy remains a challenge for some learners who have learning difficulties and / or home environments where parents are not able to fully support their children due to their own challenging circumstances. As such, and in the context of the dire literacy challenges in our country, we have a dedicated focus to ensure that all learners in our school are literate.

What we have done so far in 2024:

Number of library visits this year: 6 – 9 year olds = 22 | 9 – 12 year olds = 22

We have a dedicated language tutor that works with the Grade 7 group (11/12 year olds) to improve their language and literacy skills:

• Grade 7 class – 14 children
• Afrikaans lessons – 80 hours
• English lessons – 85 hours

The language bridging class is small, and this makes the children feel safe to express themselves in English and Afrikaans. This is the second year that these classes are offered. Last year’s learners not only coped well in their new high schools, but Lynedoch Community School children were among the top achievers.

Concentration, endurance, posture, and confidence are important qualities that help literacy and language skills. Some children need additional support to strengthen these qualities, before advances will be made in literacy levels. This year 5 learners received Occupational Therapy:

• 3 children once a month – 36 sessions = 36 hours
• 2 children had full assessments completed – 15 hours

Speaking, listening, reading, writing and problem-solving are integrated into speech therapy sessions. This year 8 children could be assisted:

• 8 children once a month – 12 sessions in total – 52 hours

It is important that learners not only receive support at school, but at home as well. We realise that not all parents or guardians are equipped to support their child/ren, and we work hard to make parents part of their child’s learning journey. This year Community Keepers facilitated 3 sessions with parents:

• Wellbeing workshop – 12 parents attended
• Parenting tools and emotions – 51 parents attended
• Cultivating kindness – 4 parents attended (middle of the day workshop)

“All of the learners that are receiving tutoring and therapy interventions are improving on various levels. We are seeing increased levels of confidence, learners becoming more talkative, being able to concentrate for longer, and using more expressive language. Along with speech development their body language is also improving with eye contact, posture and gestures accompanying their oral speech.” – Vanessa von der Heyde, Director

Hugenote Kollege

“There are very few bursary opportunities available for the ECD students, and therefore we were thrilled to hear that three bursaries were awarded to the students of Hugenote Kollege.

Our program allows us to form a close bond with each student. You get to know them so well, and I could fully share in their joy when they found out they had received the bursaries.

All three of these students are dedicated young women with a passion for working with children and a dream to make a difference in the lives of young learners. Thanks to these bursaries, a significant financial burden has been lifted from their shoulders. I know this is a clear example of prayers being answered, and they stand as testimonies to the fact that dreams can indeed come true through the kindness of others who care.” – Charlene Collins ECD Facilitator Year 2

Annual Partner Conference: The Trust’s partner organisations came together to share success stories and learn from one another in October 2024.

Your Continued Support: Reimagining the Future

Join us on this journey of transformation. Together, we are building a sustainable future—one where every child in the Cape Winelands has access to quality education and the support they need to achieve their goals.

Thank you for your ongoing dedication and generosity!