The Hantam Community Education Trust is making a massive difference in Colesberg, Northern Cape by breaking the cycle of poverty.
Colesberg, Northern Cape – The Umthombo Wolwazi Farm School is supported by the Hantam Community Education Trust which has led the school to thrive.
It all started 28 years ago when a play school was set up in a disused farm building. Since then it has grown into an early learning centre, primary school and intermediate school, housed in a complex built on land donated by a local farmer. The school is managed by the trust as well as a few other perks which the community can make use of.
“The Trust utilises advanced educational methods, including innovative new approaches to achieving basic numeracy and literacy, and helps its learners to complete further education and training. It also manages community health and youth development programmes.”
The project has won numerous awards, including the State President’s Award for Community Initiative in the Northern Cape. They have 6 divisions which are focussed on uplifting the farm community of Colesberg.
Starting with early learning, children can access educational care from a young age. They then move on to primary and high school learning. From there the young adults are assisted with tertiary education, they gain access to bursaries for further education and training, and receive continued guidance and support.
The 4th division of the trust is youth development, this programme is run for those that do not get the opportunity to go to university. They all have the opportunity to get training that will help them enter the job market. Everyone that is involved in the trust’s programme have access to medical care through the trust’s 5th division. Learners and their families receive home visits from health workers and benefit from a community health clinic and pharmacy.
The final division of the trust is community participation. The community is part of how the trust is governed, having a say in how the children within the community are uplifted.
This approach has been a massive success and should be used as a model for how other towns can break the cycle of poverty by focusing on the foundation of society, children and education.
The trust operates on some governement funding but mostly relies on local and international donations. You can read more about it here.
You can watch how their trust has bred success over the last 28 years.
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