Clever Bears after-school in Macassar recently joined Anna Foundation’s network of after-school programmes.
The Anna Foundation has launched two new after-school programmes – Clever Bears after-school in Macassar and Weltevrede NGK after-school in Rawsonville – welcoming 76 additional children from rural farming communities. With these two new projects, the Anna Foundation supports more than 800 children across 23 after-school projects across the Western Cape.
The Foundation’s expansion comes after sobering results from the Funda Uphumelele National Survey (FUNS), released by the Department of Basic Education in November last year. The nationwide study revealed that only one in three children in South Africa achieved the minimum reading benchmarks in their home language across Grades 1 to 3. Additionally, the study showed that 15% of learners cannot read a single word by Grade 3.
Marike Pieterse, senior project manager for Education at the Anna Foundation, says the statistics from the FUNS study underscore the urgency of their work: "When we see that only 33% of Foundation Phase learners in South Africa are meeting basic reading benchmarks, we know we have to do something."
"By launching another after-school in the Rawsonville region and partnering with Clever Bears in Macassar, we are ensuring that 76 more children have a structured environment where they can develop the literacy skills that are the foundation of all future learning. Our goal is to make sure these children are the ones who beat the statistics," she adds.
Gwen Philips, who established the Clever Bears after-school, said the following about Anna Foundation’s 3Rs programme: "We really enjoy being part of the Anna Foundation and have noticed a big difference in our learners, especially with their reading abilities. The learners enjoy the practical reading games developed by the Anna Foundation and have a lot of fun playing them. It especially helps learners who struggle with reading," says Philips.
Anna Foundation recently launched Weltevrede NGK after-school in Rawsonville.
How the Anna Foundation helps: The 3Rs Programme
The Anna Foundation is a South African non-profit organisation running 23 after-school programmes in rural communities across the Western Cape. Through its 3Rs curriculum and a network of 55 local facilitators, the Foundation supports more than 800 children with literacy, numeracy, sport and life skills every day.
At the heart of each after-school is the Foundation’s 3Rs Programme, short for Reading (education), Running (sport), and Right-ing (life skills), delivered through daily structured sessions:
- Reading and maths: Curriculum-aligned sessions focused on core literacy and numeracy skills through practical activities.
- Sport: Structured physical activities that builds coordination, confidence, and classroom focus.
- Life skills: Drama-based activities developed with specialists to build confidence, communication, and emotional awareness
The Anna Foundation relies on donations to keep its programmes running. To support or get involved, visit www.annafoundation.com or email info@annafoundation.com.
Good news stories abound in the South African Winelands. The #wineforgood campaign, launched by wine.co.za in June 2016, is all about sharing these uplifting stories. We dedicate the month of April to our #wineforgood campaign each year, sharing a good news story every day. Join us in spreading the good news about South African wine. If you'd like to submit a story, please email editor@wine.co.za. For more stories, visit www.wineforgood.co.za.