South African Education & Environment Project

South African runs for SAEP in London Marathon
Buckingham Palace guards stood watch as Andrew Sparg neared the finish line of the 2012 London Marathon for SAEP, netting more than R42 000 to fund education in his native South Africa. It was Andrew's first marathon, and he won a ballot entry through Investec Bank, his employer at the time. Though training in the unforgivably cold UK winter months of January and February proved challenging, runners enjoyed a clear and sunny race day on April 22. Crowds of supporters packed the...

Armed with knowledge, soon-to-be-matrics ponder careers
Among the Grade 12 students at Zisukhanyo High School there are future journalists, doctors, Navy officers and electricians. But right now, many of them have no idea how they'll get there.  To help, SAEP social work intern Kayin Scholtz is coordinating a three-part series of career counselling workshops that encourage learners to think realistically about their post-matric plans and educate them on the steps needed to achieve them. The first workshop on April 20 divided 155 learners into small groups where facilitators...

Tertiary student earns special bursary
For 2011 Bridging Year alum Xolelwa Honey Nkohla, a major pressure of university life just lifted: She no longer has to worry about how she's going to pay for her education. When she enrolled at the University of the Western Cape, Honey - like many students - received a loan from the National Student Financial Aid Scheme with the condition that up to 40 percent of it would be forgiven at the end of the year if she passed all of...

Sophumelela plants seeds of success
Grade 10 students from two high schools, Sophumelela and Sinethemba, are developing vegetable gardens on school grounds this year as the centerpiece of SAEP's Environmental Education programme.   Seedlings of spinach, cauliflower, beans and peas, as well carrot and beetroot seeds, are waiting to sprout at Sophumelela after a day of hard work by learners and volunteers. The gardens teach sustainable food production and give practical lessons on topics the learners discuss in after-school environment clubs. "The kids were very excited...

Help shape the next generation: give a career talk
Can you spare an hour of your time to tell our bridging year students about your career or your studies? We're looking for professionals and students who are willing to share their experience and insight.   The series of career talks and panels, part of the programme's intensive academic and career counselling component, aims to expose students to a broad spectrum of careers, share insiders' perspectives on various career paths and industries, educate students about the employment landscape in South Africa, and provide a platform for students...

Making the case for law school: SAEP students attend moot court
Are there future lawyers in SAEP's ranks? Twenty-six learners from Zisukhanyo, Sophumelela, Intsebenziswano and Philippi High School observed oral arguments in the National Schools Moot Court Competition, held April 14 in courtrooms at Cape Town Magistrate's Court. The learners are participating in after-school law classes taught by SAEP volunteer Tom Burgess. After the competition, he reports, many were fired up to learn more. High school learners from across the Western Cape were invited to the provincial rounds of the Moot Court Competition to argue...

From her new laptop, a student says thank you
2010 Bridging Year alumnus Nonkululeko Monatisa, now in her second year in ND Chemical Engineering at CPUT, describes in her own words the joy she and seven other students felt when they received a new laptop and printer from SAEP donors. Additional laptops will be purchased later this year. Being a tertiary student is challenging, and it's even more so if you come from a family that lacks financial resources such as mine. It means having limited access to books, computers...

SAEP staff pound the pavement for environmental education
  Despite a torrential rainstorm, SAEP staff members Katie Huston and Anna Teske completed the Old Mutual Two Oceans Half Marathon on Saturday 7 April for SAEP's Environmental Education Programme, pulling in more than R8,000 in donations.   Katie and Anna were two of the record 16,200 runners to sign up for the race, often called "the world's most beautiful half marathon". Its 21-kilometer route loops through the Constantia wine valley and hugs the base of Table Mountain.   The funds they raised will directly support the...

Second educare centre construction in six months now underway
  On March 28, SAEP's Early Childhood Development programme broke ground on improvements for yet another school in Philippi.   Construction on Sakhingomso Educare is expected to be complete in just one month, with a goal of beginning formal classes this May. Ninety learners are currently enrolled in the school and will soon benefit from three new classrooms and a new set of toilets.   SAEP's Early Childhood Development Coordinator Elise Farley, principal Phelisa Kanzi, SAEP staff, educare committee members and several local journalists were...

Steer each other in the right direction: Cross-programme academic workshop unites students
On Saturday March 24, SAEP's Tertiary Support programme participants had a chance to "give back" to Bridging Year programme students in an academic career advice workshop facilitated by Tertiary Support programme staff.   The aim of the three-hour workshop was to provide a platform for peer communication about varsity structures, work load, social life, challenges and support systems.  Six staff members, including SAEP's new social worker, Nomthetho Funani, and 34 students attended to share experiences, give advice, and discuss common issues.     As Kayin...