‘Food 4 thought’
pre - primary project
food 4 thought funding application for early childhood development
“It is our adult responsibility to give children futures worth having”
LOCATION AND MOTIVATION
Stanford, total population approximately 7000, is a pretty
Western Cape village in the Overberg district where mountains covered
in Fynbos form the backdrop. Cape Agulhas, the southern most tip of
Africa, is a mere 67 kilometres southeast.
As appealing as the surrounding country may be, the rural population is extraordinarily
poor. Within the Overberg, Stanford has the highest percentage of people living
under the bread line (R800.00 per month for a family of four). Approximately
4500 of the population, consisting of 65% of the residents, live in impoverished
conditions. Current local government resources are insufficient to accommodate
even the most basic social and educational needs for this growing community.
There are few opportunities to generate consistent liveable wages for the residents
who live in severely compromised conditions on the outskirts of the village.
Stanford has burgeoning tourism potential that will benefit all of its inhabitants.
Capital investment is also evident in the purchasing and upgrading of farms,
especially for the lucrative wine industry. However, living conditions for the
poorest residents need to be tackled if growth and prosperity is to eventuate.
ACTION
As a means of addressing and uplifting this ostracized community, concerned residents of Stanford have initiated the Stanplan project. In consultation with the community, areas of urgent need have been prioritised as follows:
• Sustainable job creation
• Skills training
• Primary Health-care clinics
• Early Childhood Development Centres - Pre-Primary Schools and After Care
• Primary and Secondary Schools
• Care of the aged
• Adult Literacy Programmes
• A community centre
The need of Pre-Primary education has been identified as a key stand-alone project. FOOD 4 THOUGHT is an integral part of the Stanplan vision.
FOOD 4 THOUGHT MISSION STATEMENT
Education is the fundamental key to the building of a new South Africa.
Unskilled migrants and their families from scattered subsistence farms in the Eastern Cape/Transkei, 1400 kilometres away, have relocated in the Overberg district of the Western Cape where there are already high unemployment figures.
In the new South African government’s urgent need to educate hitherto millions of alienated South Africans, early childhood development has had to take a back seat. The South African government plans eventually to have grade R classes - the year prior to grade 1 – attached to every primary school by 2010. FOOD 4 THOUGHT’s objective is to help fill this worrying gap and in accordance with the Stanford community’s urgent requirements, to include children aged 3 to 6 in their schools. Parents or guardians with sporadic jobs or those away job-hunting, out of necessity, leave children unattended and so unprotected.
FOOD 4 THOUGHT is a project that focuses specifically on severely marginalized pre-schoolers who live in distressingly impoverished conditions. Whilst these children’s receptive minds are bursting with curiosity, without formal educational structures and adequate nutrition to encourage their creativity, build self-esteem and develop life skills, they are at a distinct disadvantage when entering the demanding world of primary education, the rule being that school is compulsory for those children turning 7 within their first year ofschool. i.e. grade 1The project recognises that the evidence of wide-ranging learning disabilities in the community are symptomatic of the impoverished socio-economic environment. Currently, the prognosis for these Stanford pre-schoolers to succeed in the mainstream of formal education is grim. The high dropout rate of older scholars confirms this.
AIMS AND OBJECTIVES
FOOD 4 THOUGHT’s ultimate goal is to have four pre-primary schools in Stanford.
Our first school, Funimfundo (seeking knowledge) at Stanford Hill informal settlement opened its doors on 31st May 2004. We are indebted
to marvellous people of all persuasions who backed Food 4 Thought’s
wild dreams. For more information on the Funimfundo success story, please go to the end of this page.
Two in STANFORD HEIGHTS, each catering for 75 children. Two suitable plots have been identified.
One in STANFORD SOUTH for 75 children in an allocated area within the designated Stanplan Community Centre.
STRUCTURE OF FOOD 4 THOUGHT PRE-PRIMARY SCHOOLING
Each of the four schools - named individually by the community (there will be the opportunity to name a particular school after a benefactor) will elect a self-governing school committee comprised of teachers, parents and two FOOD 4 THOUGHT committee members.
All costs and expenses associated with this project shall be transparent and accounted for, using strictly controlled accounting principals.
Committee members and teachers will attend Early Childhood Development forums, thereby maintaining contact with pre-school educators.
Themes included in community discussion groups will be parent responsibility and the financial and associated benefits of a planned family.
Because of the extreme poverty, financial contributions by parents or guardians will be assessed on a means test. Parents’ earnings will fluctuate with seasonal jobs. A dignifying system of paying in kind will be introduced. A rotational system of duties will be established amongst parents e.g. cooking, assisting teachers, child aftercare, cleaning, gardening, maintenance, etc.All financial contributions will go towards teachers’ salaries and when necessary and if possible, will be supplemented by FOOD 4 THOUGHT funding.
FOOD 4 THOUGHT committee members will monitor proceedings and maintain an active interest. However, the committee recognises that in order for this project to achieve its long-term objectives, it is imperative that a structure for sustainable results and ownership of outcomes needs to be vested with the beneficiaries of the initiatives. Further, FOOD 4 THOUGHT has ensured that the community has bought into and has actively participated in the initiatives from their inception. The aim is to transfer decision-making and control to community leaders via a phased-in approach over a 5-year period.
STRATEGY
As of March 2004, because of parent pressure and in spite of having meagre funding, FOOD 4 THOUGHT has started the renovations on the school at Stanford Hill. The barest essentials were being complied with, adhering to government standards, ensuring a safe environment for the children, protection from the elements and hygienic working conditions. The school opened its doors to plus/minus 30 children on Monday, 31st May 2004. (For details on progress up-date and needs, please refer to the last section of this page.)
In preparation for the second school, allowing for a further 75 placements, FOOD 4 THOUGHT will, in consultation with the Overstrand Municipality, select the next most appropriate site, which unfortunately will not have an existing building, and have plans drawn up to government standards, so that once sufficient funds have been procured, the project can be addressed and similarly with the third and fourth schools.
Teacher training will be staggered to slot into the selected time span.
CHILD CARE WITH LOVE
FOOD 4 THOUGHT teachers are selected by an independent Early Childhood Development body, for their special qualities of intelligence and affinity to small children
FOOD 4 THOUGHT schools will be happy environments where children will learn
while having fun.
Children will be under supervision five days a week from 7.30am to 4pm
during school terms.
Children will be greeted by a teacher on arriving at the school gate
Children will have structured classes between 8am and 2pm
A child not collected on time will be kept safe until some one fetches
him or her
Children will receive nutritional, balanced and appealing food at breakfast,
mid morning, and lunch
Children will be made to feel uniquely special and worthwhile in an ever-changing
world.
JOB CREATION
TEACHER TRAINING
Selected student teachers, with a minimum grade 10 pass, equal to two years prior to final school year, will be trained in five comprehensive levels of early childhood development. The first four levels will utilise both tutorial and in-house/on-site training methodology and can be realized within two years. The successful graduates will be accredited with the appropriate SETA (Sector Education and Training Authority) qualifying certification. The fifth level, grade R, will include long-distance learning through UNISA (The University of South Africa correspondence course) and be achievable in one year. Successful graduates will be accredited with a degree in Early Childhood Education. It is permissible to employ teachers who have attained the preliminary stages of the first four levels and who have qualifying certificates.
Teachers will attend inter pre-school Early Childhood Development forums and seminars.
Each quarter, teachers will inform parents and guardians as to their child’s progress.
Recognising symptoms of Aids, child abuse, malnutrition, childhood illnesses and learning disabilities will be incorporated into the teachers’ training programme.Teachers will be trained in basic first aid.
ADMINISTRATIVE TRAINING
Training of an administrative supervisor will be a requirement. The nominee will start as a trainee assistant to the FOOD 4 THOUGHT administrator and progress to a supervisory role.
NUTRITION
Sensible nutrition and thoughtful teaching go hand in hand.
Parents, as well as school cooks, will be encouraged to attend lectures where accredited nutritionists will cover healthy eating habits using locally accessible foods, hygiene, feeding of sick children and budgeting.
FOOD GARDENS
Food gardening, a sustainable empowerment project, for the exclusive use in this case, of the Stanford Hill School, is to be implemented. The primary object is to supply vegetables to the school. Any excess is to be sold at Stanford market stalls for the school's benefit. Committed gardeners will have personal gardens to feed their families and supplement their income. The costs are minimal.
Food gardening has been a widespread success because:
• The door size garden is easily managed
• There can be one or many such gardens – space permitting
• It uses up biodegradable refuse
• It uses less precious water
• Food gardening encourages teamwork
FOOD FOR THOUGHT COMMITMENT
The Food 4 Thought committee are all permanent residents of Stanford and represent the three language groups in the Overberg district of the Western Cape namely, Xhosa, English and Afrikaans. They will maintain an active interest in this exciting project, ensuring that the highest standard of caring and education are upheld in the schools. Visitors will be welcome.
/p>The FOOD 4 THOUGHT committee, has the support of the Overstrand Municipality, educationalists, professionals and local businesses.The Stanford community is very aware of the power of education and the FOOD 4 THOUGHT committee has involved them and sought their participation in the pre-school projects from the outset.
Progress, events and local fund raising drives will be posted on prominent notice boards informing locals and visitors alike of the school’s projects aims and successes.
Correspondence will be kept up with interested parties further afield, highlighting their special interests as well as giving them a broad overview of the project.
CONFIDENT, EDUCATED CHILDREN ARE ABLE TO MAKE INFORMED CHOICES IN ADULT LIFE
LEARNING TO SHARE AND CARE
STANFORD PRE-PRIMARY SCHOOL FUNDING
The supporters of FOOD 4 THOUGHT are aware that it would be shortsighted to raise funds only for the set-up of the initial infrastructure – it is vital that sufficient capital is raised to ensure the ongoing running of any such facilities. In our calculations we therefore have taken into account the following considerations.
• Initial cost of establishing the pre-primary schools• Teacher training funding
• Capital to provide income to run the pre-primary schools on an annual basis,
including inflation incurred on goods and services.
The intention will always be to make the project as self-sufficient as
possible. The provision of initial capital is well beyond the reach of
current interested parties, but the
raising of additional funds should be possible locally via income-generating
initiatives to support the project on an ongoing basis.
Funds collected or donated to FOOD 4 THOUGHT are held in a savings account,
and two of three signatories will be compulsory for any transactions.
See banking details on page 12.
It is important for funders to note that the project will be initially
controlled and managed by the members of FOOD 4 THOUGHT. The intention
would be to work together with leaders of the community with the long-term
object of eventually handing over to them to manage their own affairs yet
remain under the auspicious of FOOD 4 THOUGHT.
IN SUMMING UP
South Africa’s lack of social commitment in the past has insured a legacy of a largely under-educated populace. Food 4 Thought is an initiative with the express intention of addressing the historical imbalances by beginning in a small way at a community level. We believe that the greatest impact for nation-building begins with our pre-primary children.
EDUCATION IS THE ONLY WAY UP
The Food 4 Thought committee, teachers and small children of Stanford thank you for having read this far. We at Food 4 Thought have chosen to make a positive contribution to a better society by directing our collective energies into enabling young South Africans to, through education, make a choice and so become confident, motivating adults in an ever-changing and challenging world.
Compiled by the Food 4 Thought action committee
February 2005FOOD 4 THOUGHT COMMITTEE MEMBERS| Merle Bernstein | Administration (Vice Chairperson) |
| Judy Brown | Nutrition |
| Jane Dowie Dunn | Co-ordination of schools & general fund raiser (Chairperson) |
| Charlotte Dreyer | Community liaison – Stanford South |
| Sarah Gordon | The Five-O-Club –fund raising |
| Cathie Hornby | Secretary |
| Nokuthula Radebe | Community liaison and Xhosa translator - Stanford Heights |
| Jennifer Viotti | Food gardening |
| Mary Anne | Ward Flea markets |
Members of the committee shall serve in a voluntary capacity and shall receive no remuneration out of the funds for the project.
FOOD 4 THOUGHT BANKING DETAILS
FOOD 4 THOUGHT have a Savings Account with:
ABSA BANK LTD. Hermanus
Account number : 9116489884
Branch code : 632005
Swift code : ABSAZAJJ
Two of the three signatories listed below have to
sign any transaction.
Merle Bernstein
Jane Dowie Dunn
Jennifer Viotti
FOOD 4 THOUGHT use the Stanplan Auditors:
Oosthuizen Philip & Co.
Chartered Accountants
18a Aberdeen Street
Hermanus
P.O. Box 115
Hermanus
tel: +27 28 313 0223
e-mail: opc@hermanus.co.za
STANPLAN
Stanplan is a registered Section 21 company – a non-government organisation and an association not for gain – formed by the village of Stanford to enable it to obtain grants from government funding, national and international private sector organisations and private donors.
Stanford is the smallest village in the Overberg and consequently the last to be considered when municipal funds are allocated. Local action was called for.
Essentially, Stanplan has been constituted to take up the shortfall of municipal budgets. The money raised will be channelled into upgrading and providing infrastructure and services. Resources accruing to Stanplan will be utilised for socio-economic development and the fulfilment of the community’s needs. Stanplan will be instrumental in the initiation and completion of community-enhancing capital projects.
The Stanplan project would be putting “It’s money where it’s mouth is” by ensuring that all tenders for the building of the schools and other services, would be awarded on the basis (amongst other aspects, like competency and price) of the number of the people chosen from the community for training and employment. Thus in the case of FOOD 4 THOUGHT schools, additional work creation opportunities for the parents.Natural products such as alien timber and possible by-products obtainable within the immediate environs, will be used where practicable and environmentally sound. The sourcing of such products will create a hub of self-sustainable small businesses run by newly trained local entrepreneurs drawing on their inherent talent and artistry.
For more concise information on Stanplan, the chairman, David Dowie Dunn may
be contacted on:
tel / fax: +27 28 341 0401
e-mail: food4thought@overberg.co.za
P.O. Box 896, Stanford, 7210, South Africa
