SOS Africa’s Grabouw Education Centre was established by The SOS Africa Western Cape Trust in September 2013. In partnership with Grabouw Primary and High Schools, it provides holistic education and care for disadvantaged children from the Pineview and Snake Park township communities.
SOS Africa’s Grabouw Education Centre was the charity’s first project in the Western Cape. Thanks to the invaluable support of sponsors around the world, it has grown to provide holistic education to 47 students and facilitates reading programmes for up to 60 children with learning difficulties.
Pineview and Snake Park Background
The children sponsored by SOS Africa’s Grabouw Education Programme live either in Pineview and Snake Park Townships. There are an estimated 60,000 people living in these communities and work is usually seasonal as most employment is found on the surrounding fruit farms. A significant challenge in the area is the high seasonality and the resultant poverty-related issues that this presents. During the fruit picking season, there is a shortage of labour but for the remaining 8 months of the year, unemployment is extremely high. The impact of this financial hardship on the community is substantial.
The issues stemming from “seasonality” severely impact upon the mental and physical health of these communities. Unemployment during the off-season results in an increase in domestic and community violence as well as child abuse and other such issues. During “the season” children generally return to empty homes without any parental support and are at their most vulnerable.
SOS Africa’s Grabouw Education Programme
In January 2014, SOS Africa teamed up with a local organisation Agape, which had established a number of pre-primary nurseries throughout the Grabouw. Their primary focus is preparing children for school. With Agape’s help, SOS Africa identified a number of children from disadvantaged families who had the potential to thrive academically.
SOS Africa’s Child Sponsorship Programme enables these children attend Grabouw Primary and High School where they have the opportunity to reach their full potential. These particular schools provide a high standard of education and offer positive and caring environments for all scholars.
Grabouw Education Centre Impact
In Grabouw, many children have nowhere to go to when school finishes at lunchtime; this is a dangerous time when children are at their most vulnerable. The SOS Africa children therefore attend the charity’s Grabouw Education Centre each afternoon. There they receive a nutritious lunch, extra tuition, homework assistance and mentor support. Most importantly it provides them with a safe and friendly environment within which they can learn and grow.
In addition, SOS Africa also provides extra-curricular activities including sports, music lessons, dance, gardening and even self-defence lessons. The staff also arrange regular outings to help broaden the horizons and interests of the sponsored children. Action-packed holiday programmes for the students and workshops for parents are also hosted by SOS Africa’s Grabouw Education Centre.
School Graduations and Sports Scholarships
Over the past 12 years our dedicated staff have supported the charity’s sponsored children through a personal and holistic education process, tailored to their needs. In January 2018, SOS Africa’s oldest child graduated from Grabouw Primary School and began a welding course at Westcliffe School of Skills. In 2022 he was offered an internship at TFD Manufacturing who subsequently offered him a full-time role in May 2023.
In 2022 SOS Africa’s Elvino was noticed by a rugby scout during a regional tournament and offered a scholarship to Drostdy Technical College in Worcester. Elvino thrived there and was soon scouted by rugby scouts from Durban High and offered a full scholarship by the Sharks feeder school in early 2024. His sights are still firmly set on playing for the Springboks.
SOS Africa’s Grabouw Education Centre continues to make a significant impact upon the lives of disadvantaged children. This fruitful collaboration provides them with everything they need to grow and thrive. SOS Africa is looking to expand the support it provides the school and surrounding communities in the near future…
Find out about SOS Africa’s other Education Centres…
