In 2001, Cyril Ramaphosa was approached by his former primary school, Tshilidzi Primary in Soweto, asking if he’d consider donating a fax machine. He’d be happy to, he told them, and upon returning to his former school after so many years, he saw they were in need of much more than just a fax machine. And so, the Adopt‐a‐School Foundation was born. In 2002, Cyril officially established the Foundation, together with a group of concerned individuals such as Dr James Motlatsi.
The Adopt‐a‐School Foundation’s mission is to create conducive learning and teaching environments in disadvantaged schools with the support of government, the private sector, organisations and individuals.
ADOPT-A-SCHOOL FOUNDATION IMPACT
ADOPTED SCHOOLS
SMALL BUSINESSES ASSISTED SINCE INCEPTION
LEARNERS BENEFITED SINCE INCEPTION
EYESIGHT TESTS CONDUCTED
NUMBER OF LEARNERS WHO HAVE RECEIVED SPECTACLES
HEARING TESTS CONDUCTED
Impact figures as at 31 August 2024
WHOLE SCHOOL DEVELOPMENT MODEL
Adopt-a-School makes use of a Whole School Development model in acknowledgement and honour of each school having its own unique needs, while also recognising the importance of strategic planning when it comes to ensuring success.
Strategic planning sessions enable the school to identify its areas of weakness, develop positive action plans and set performance targets for continued success in the coming years. They have also been proven to improve morale and motivation.
Adopt-a-School also actively seeks opportunities to partner with other non-governmental organisations (NGOs) as well as service providers related to the various education sectors including mathematics, science, accounting, management training, librarian training, pre-school (or Grade R) education, literacy and languages.
Furthermore, the Foundation addresses the basic needs of learners by focusing on aspects of social welfare, such as health and nutrition.
The unfortunate reality is that many learners in South Africa go to school hungry, and to address this issue, the Foundation encourages each adopted school to grow vegetable gardens with which to supplement school feeding schemes. Extra produce can also then be taken home to the families most in need.
Those eligible for social grants are assisted in applying to the departments of Home Affairs and Social Development for welfare aid, birth certificates and other governmental services.
Adopt-a-School also runs a visual support programme that provides eyesight-testing clinics at its various schools. This programme supplies free spectacles to those with poor eyesight, and learners with more serious ophthalmological conditions are referred to specialist clinics. Furthermore, a hearing support programme is being implemented to identify and assist those learners with hearing impediments.
To date, Adopt-a-School has secured partnership with 85 businesses that have adopted 314 schools, over 80 NGOs that specialise in various areas of development, as well as thousands of individuals who have contributed their time, money and skills.
Adopt‐a‐School continues to proudly improve the educational landscape by empowering school communities, raising awareness and connecting private individuals and corporate social investment funds to South Africa’s disadvantaged schools.
“I have learnt how important it is to not give up. When I was at Olifantsvlei Primary, I learnt that no matter where you come from, no matter what is happening in your life; with a good education you can do anything. Olifantsvlei Primary School taught me to hope. Moses Maren has since taught me how to set goals and is giving me the tools to achieve them. I believe that knowledge is so important because it is the one thing that no one can ever take away from you.”
GET INVOLVED
We need passionate people to help spread awareness about the work we do, and to help raise critical funds for changing lives through education.
Schools, companies and individuals are invited to partner with us to either adopt their own disadvantaged school, or to assist with fostering specific development programmes within our adopted schools. You can also contribute your time and skills to support our teachers and learners.
Working together we can deepen our impact and give more school children a brighter future.
GET INVOLVED
If you would like to support Adopt-a-School, or to get more information about the initiative, please kindly contact:
Tel: 011 592 6560
Email: info@adoptaschool.co.za
“Education will liberate people out of poverty.”
Dr James Motlatsi, Deputy Chairperson, Adopt-a-School Foundation
“They have the right to education – they have the right to be children.”
Mrs Ella Matlejane, Principal, Moses Maren Technical Secondary School