Education Programmes for Kids &Teachers, Cape Town

Thank you so much for supporting ORT SA CAPE's programmes in Cape Town, through CHW's GlobalGiving page. You are making sure that the children have access to a higher quality of education in the classroom!

Below is an update from Bev, at ORT SA CAPE, on how your contributions have been helping:

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We continue with our mission to provide quality education and equitable opportunities to the underprivileged children and youth of South Africa.

At ORT SA CAPE we believe in the transformative power of education and the idea that everyone, regardless of their background, should have access to a quality education.

Our focus is on equipping and empowering people through training, work experience, support and networking.

ORT SA CAPE's integrated educational approach encompasses:

* Youth development
* Education programmes
* Entrepreneur support

Last year, we expanded our reach to more communities, impacting the lives of over 90,000 children and our programmes reached over 900 ECD [Early Childhood Development] centres and primary schools across the Western Cape. Our programmes improved the skills and confidence of 3042 teachers, ultimately benefitting the learners in their care.

We continue to implement models that focus on play-based learning, cognitive development, and social-emotional growth. In response to the changing educational landscape, we successfully integrated technology into our training programmes. We continue to equip teachers with the skills to navigate the new digital curriculum of Coding and Robotics.

In 2023 Our learnership programmes allowed 160 students to pursue a diploma in Early Childhood Development, helping them break the cycle of poverty and create a brighter future for themselves and their communities.

Our youth employment programmes have provided critical life and employability skills training to 405 young individuals, equipping them with the tools they need to succeed in the job market and in life.

We continue to implement community engagement initiatives, fostering partnerships with local businesses, government agencies, and other NGOs [non-governmental organisations]. These collaborations have led to a more holistic and sustainable approach to education and have contributed to our success. Not only has this enabled us to reach more beneficiaries, but also a more diverse group of beneficiaries. We are working towards cementing these partnerships as well as looking at new opportunities to work with like-minded organisations.

Through our collaboration with other organisations, we ran Lego Six Bricks training for Outliers on 28 Feb 2024, an organisation that supports after school programmes in under resourced communities. The Lego resources are a powerful tool for supporting learners who experience difficulties with certain concepts and are used to consolidate these skills.

After the training with ORT SA CAPE, Outliers shared the following: "The tutors in our community put so much effort into finding new ways to connect with [pupils]. Here's to more safe spaces filled with laughter and learning."

We continue our ''Principals Networking Sessions'' and have expanded into other areas. ORT SA CAPE launched its Saldanha Bay Principals Networking Sessions on 5 March 2024. 45 ECD Principals and visiting NGOs from different areas on the Westcoast gathered together. The theme for the launch was; "completing and not competing". Something magical happens when principals get together and brainstorm on real-life issues affecting them and their schools. Together we can build on a brighter future for all.

We continue our Purposeful Play workshops and between January and March we have trained 87 ECD practitioners

With gratitude for the support, we look forward to the continued funding from CHW driven by the belief that positive change is not just possible but imminent. Your ongoing commitment will ensure we are able to strengthen communities and change more lives through education.

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Thank you so much for improving the quality of education that children will receive in schools and in Early Childhood Development centres and creches.

We are excited to let you know that from 8 April until 12 April, GlobalGiving is running its Little By Little campaign, where donations up to £39 will be partially matched. If you would like to continue to make a difference for the children and contribute again during that week, your kindness will go extra far!

Thank you for your amazing support!