Introducing a small project with mighty results.

15 November 2024

On any given weekday afternoon, you can arrive at Ethembeni’s Family Centre in Mpophomeni, the home of the Education Support programme (Ed Support) and find between 60 and 70 children ages 5 to 21 years engaged in meaningful academic activities. Facilitators are trusted, caring adults who lead small groups of about 15 children, helping them to do homework and projects. The children who attend regularly are diligent and committed.

This is an After School Programme (ASP) that started in 2012 and has been a source of support, education and fun for hundreds of children since.

In their own words…

“I love Ethembeni because the Aunties (facilitators) love us, they help us with homework and sometimes they give us jerseys to make sure that we are warm in Winter.” K.Z., 12 year old.

“I love coming to Ethembeni because I get helped with my homeworks and projects.” E.P., 12 year old.

Why is such a programme needed? The schools in Mpophomeni are quintile 2 schools, serving the second most impoverished portion of the population. This picture illustrates the inequality gap between the different quintile schools.

I sat down with Sindi Manyoni, the current manager of the Ed Support programme to talk about what she does and why she does it…

Sindi, how did you end up working here?

In September 2017, Sofe (founder of the Ed Support programme), asked me to come and volunteer. I was working at PicknPay at the time. I gave up paid employment to come and volunteer here. A while later, Sofe advocated for us to receive a stipend which we did start receiving.

You left paid employment to volunteer here, why? 

I’ve always had a passion for working with kids and I feel like I want to make sure that I am their safe space. I really loved the job because I was studying towards a degree in teaching. It was so much fun! Being able to be there for the kids was important to me.

I went to Howick High and I had teachers who were there for me, like Mrs Beard my art teacher. If it wasn’t for Mrs Beard’s kindness to me… I want to be a Mrs Beard to those kids. I get so emotional when I talk about this! (Note: Lindi Beard is still teaching at Howick High making a difference in learner’s lives every year). 

Mrs Beard was everyone’s favourite teacher and everyone loved her. She made me feel special. I became pregnant in grade 12 and she supported me emotionally. She bought me things I needed. She is such a lovely person and a mentor.

So, I want to be there for these kids like she was for me. These are vulnerable children and sometimes the teachers just don’t have time. Education Support is where kids can relax, we build relationships and we are their safe space.

Let’s talk about teen pregnancy, especially in Mpophomeni…

My pregnancy in Matric is not something I hide. I tell the girls what I went through, because honestly, it is so difficult. I talk about the challenges and I talk about the importance of continuing your education even after having a baby. Without a Matric there is just nothing after school. I managed to finish my exams and I passed.

You are carrying on a legacy, mentoring and inspiring children everyday. What are you hoping your legacy will be?

I hope this expands. I hope we do get funding, I would be so devasted if Ed Support were to stop. I would still choose Ed Support over teaching because these kids really rely on us and I would be devasted if the project stopped. Even if they don’t have homework, some of them just need to be here because home is not always a good place for them to be. This is where they are free. This is more than academics, it’s about the mental and emotional wellbeing of the children.

This is something I want to work in and be a part of in the future. I turned down a job a while ago, earning a lot more, but it’s worth it because I love my job here!

What does it look like on a day-to-day basis in the centre?

It changes everyday, and I feel like each term is different. Like term 3, last term, was project term and it was packed every afternoon.

The children come after school and are placed in small groups with a facilitator. They get help with their homework, or ask for help where they are not understanding their work. We have volunteers coming in to help improve children’s ability to read for meaning once a week. We have “Fun Fridays” where we do baking or cooking or a craft or sport. Mostly, we continuously build relationships. We are a small team of 4 facilitators, and currently have an overseas volunteer with us for a few months.

What has Education Support Achieved?

Statistics kept over the past 7 years (2017 to 2023) by the Ed Support team reveal the following;

No girl child attending Education Support in the past 7 years has fallen pregnant whilst being a member of the programme. This is significant as teenage pregnancy rates for 2022/2023 in South Africa were at an estimated 150 000 girls between the ages of 10 and 19 years old. A key protective factor in preventing teenage pregnancy is supportive relationships, which the Ed Support facilitators consistently provide.

Between 2019 and 2023 a total of 38 learners stayed part of the programme and matriculated from it in grade 12. 36 of these 38 learners passed Matric.

In 2023 100% of the learners attending Ed Support who wrote Matric passed and several of these matriculants have come back to volunteer at the programme. MANY previous matriculants have are in (or have been in) tertiary education.

Learners attending Education Support stay in school. The dropout rate of learners in South Africa is extremely high. According to StatsSA in 2024, 3% of 15 year olds and 9% of 17 year olds dropped out of school. When learners are attending Ed Support at Ethembeni, they stay in school.

 

Given the context of education in South Africa, these are incredible achievements! However, currently Ed Support has very little financial support and the programme’s sustainability is in jeopardy.

Please give supporting this incredible project some serious thought. You can read the full report on the case for investment in ASP (after school support)2021-Investment-Case-for-After-School-Programmes. This programme is an absolute necessity to the community of Mpophomeni.

Ed Support is run by Ethembeni, a small but MIGHTY non-governmental organisation in Mpophomeni. Ethembeni receives absolutely no government funding. They provide essential services to the community of Mpophomeni and have been doing so since 2000. Please consider making a generous donation to the Ed Support programme this Christmas time. 

You can find out more about Ethembeni at https://www.ethembeni.co.za/. Sindi and her team are always willing to have visitors and talk in person about the work they are doing.

You can make a donation:

Bank : First National Bank
Name : Ethembeni
Type of Account : Current
Account Number : 620 596 318 72
Bank Code : 220725
Swift Code : FIRNZAJJ

Full disclosure, I am a board member of Ethembeni. This is a volunteer position and I get no compensation for being on the board or for writing this article. This is close to my heart and I continue to be astounded by the work and impact such a small number of people achieve in the lives of so many. I have a long history with Ethembeni as I was employed as their social worker between 2007 and 2013. I know the integrity of the organisation and the quality and depth of the work they do. I continue to be extremely proud to be associated with them.

A HUGE thank you to Ethembeni staff and many behind-the-scenes volunteers who carry on the amazing work. May this Christmas be the best yet for you and your families and especially for those you so faithfully serve!