Know yourself. Build your future.

The Telkom Foundation announced a major investment in education in 2016, pledging more than R200 million over five years to improve the quality of teaching and learning in disadvantaged communities in South Africa.

The programme began in seven schools: five in Ga-Rankuwa, Tshwane West (Gauteng), and two in Port Elizabeth (Gqeberha), Eastern Cape. In the Ga-Rankuwa schools, Telkom provided tablets to every Grade 8 learner in 2017 and to each new Grade 8 group over the following three years.

The Telkom Foundation recognises that the psychosocial and emotional support of learners and teachers is a necessary part of its strategy: it cannot focus only on learners’ cognitive and academic development, nor only on teachers’ academic and teaching skills.

Kutitiva had the privilege of partnering with the Telkom Foundation in its psychosocial services, mobilising immediate support for learners. We assessed more than 3,000 learners, with follow-up workshops and psychosocial assistance, developing their study skills, self-confidence and self-awareness, resilience, conflict-resolution and communication skills, and guiding their subject and career choices.

Kutitiva joined hands with PROTEC in the Telkom High Schools Project. Through assessments and workshops with the PROTEC tutors, we further equipped them for the great work they do with the Telkom Foundation learners.

Kutitiva provided the lesson material for the World of Work (WoW) psychosocial subject in the PROTEC–Telkom project, and facilitated the WoW content of the Saturday teaching and Holiday School programmes. We trained and monitored the tutors as they presented the life-skills material we supplied.

PROTEC’s model has been one of learner excellence for more than 40 years. It provides Saturday school classes, vacation school programmes, vacation camps, work experience, life-skills coaching, exam-preparation camps and learning materials.

Botshabelo is a Tswana word meaning “a place to run to”. It was established as an NPO in Midrand, near Johannesburg, in 2000, when members of Urban Life Church responded to the needs of their local community and the call to be a “place of refuge” for those hurting in the city.

Botshabelo’s vision is to impact the lives of the children who need it most, through education or residential care, giving them the best start in life. Its Babies Home opened in March 2000, and its two education programmes, UpliftED and Urban Kids, started in 2010.

Under this project, Kutitiva facilitated an ECD Teachers’ Training and Development workshop. We assessed each teacher and gave feedback to the staff, so that every individual could fully understand who they are, and who their colleagues are.

In the workshops, the staff learnt classroom-management techniques that created a safe space for each learner and changed the way the children learnt, even at a young age.

What do you get when you take 185 Grade 7 learners to a corporate office park? You get the Deloitte Talent and Transformation Impact Day! Deloitte joined hands with Kutitiva Foundation’s Schools Project in the Olievenhoutbosch community.

Wide-eyed and excited, the learners filed in through the large front doors, with little gasps at the size of the building and how “smart” it was. Passing the bicycle on display at the entrance, one learner said: “My dream car!”

The Deloitte team’s preparation was thorough: an organised name-tag system, breakfast for the learners in the courtyard, and coffee and breakfast for the teachers. The main auditorium caused yet another gasp, and made the learners feel so important as they sat waiting with expectation.

A warm welcome by Alison Jackson, Impact Day Champion for Talent and Transformation, was followed by an introduction from Sandy Willard, Head of Learning and Events, and an energising, heartfelt motivational talk and activity by Associate Director Dr Rutendo Hwindingwi.

The learners were then divided into three training rooms, where the Kutitiva team presented an interactive 90-minute workshop on personal learning styles, with practical study techniques from “Reflective Educational Perspectives™”. The Deloitte team facilitated group discussions and a thought-provoking activity of their own; one young learner was in tears as she wrote about her hero, her brother.

After a nutritious lunch, a motivational speaker wrapped up the day in the auditorium. To the teachers’ surprise, Deloitte presented each educator with a tablet. A few were in tears, and one teacher kept taking her gift out and covering her mouth in disbelief.

Deloitte has also invested in Kutitiva’s Olievenhoutbosch Schools Project beyond Impact Day, sponsoring assessments and training workshops for 20 learners and 16 teachers. These equip teachers and learners in personal and team development, study techniques, classroom management and resilience.

Thank you, Deloitte, for linking hands with us through your Talent and Transformation team to impact young lives and develop a community!