The Back to School for a Day movement has received a major boost with the announcement this week that The Nelson Mandela Foundation (NMF) is supporting this important initiative.
The event, which takes place countrywide on Mandela Day, July 18, was launched four years ago by the Adopt-a-School Foundation. The aim of Back to School for a Day is to get South Africans involved in making a meaningful difference in the country’s schools and education system.
Each year corporates and citizens are invited to go back to their schools and help improve the physical environments where children learn, grow and develop to reach their full potential.
Whether it’s painting the walls, planting food gardens or fixing broken furniture – this day is about South Africans lending a hand to make a difference. Learners are also exposed to career guidance programmes, debating workshops, literacy activities and motivational talks.
The NMF’s CEO, Sello Hatang, says the Foundation sees enormous synergies with Adopt-a-School and feels the campaign is in line with their fundamental principles: “We are delighted to give our full backing for the first time to this wonderful movement and encourage all South Africans to rally behind this initiative as we celebrate Mandela Day on July 18. Education has always been a cause close to Tata’s heart and what better way to honour both his memory and his legacy.”
As Back to School for a Day celebrates its fourth year, Adopt-a-School’s chairperson and Deputy President of South Africa, Cyril Ramaphosa, hopes its partnership with the NMF will result in more contributions being made to educating the country’s future leaders: “One day of collective action can have a huge impact on our schools. It affirms the value that society places on the success of each pupil,” he explains.
Back to School for a Day has inspired hundreds of corporate volunteers to share their time, skills and material resources.
Anyone who would like to be matched up with a school should go to the website www.adoptaschool/backtoschoolforaday.co.za and sign up.
You can also be part of the conversation on Twitter and Facebook by using the programme’s official hashtag #BacktoschoolAAS and contribute to the improvement of our schools.
Follow Adopt a School Foundation on social media:
Facebook – Adopt-a-School Foundation
Twitter – @AdoptaSchoolSA
NOTE FOR EDITORS
About the Adopt-a-School Foundation:
The Adopt-a-School Foundation is a project of the Shanduka Foundation and was officially established in 2002 by a group of concerned individuals, including Cyril Ramaphosa and Dr James Motlatsi. The Foundation is registered as a Section 21 company with PBO status and has an Independent Board of Directors.
The Foundation works with a wide range of stakeholders including; District, Provincial and National Department of Basic Education, corporate donors, various service providers and best practice NGOs. The Foundation implements Whole School Development – a holistic model aimed at improving the academic, infrastructural, social and security environment in schools.
There are currently 629 schools under the Adopt-a-School Foundation’s adoption programme. The Foundation works in all nine provinces in South Africa, and in 2012 started working in Lesotho and Mozambique.
For more information on the Adopt-a-School Foundation, please contact:
Nicola Vogel
Communications and Fundraising Manager
Adopt-a-School Foundation
T: +27 11 305 8934 / 071 883 5584