OD11 digital HR - Flipbook - Page 83
FORCE FOR GOOD
CLOCKWISE FROM LEFT Christmas
comes early on the Lutgensvale
fields; rugby remains at the heart
of VUSA; valuable Prep interactions,
both outside and in the classroom;
HRH Prince William helps out on the
Digibus; Prince William with Unathi
Kapela, head teacher at the Digibus,
and VUSA COO Nikki Matthews.
GET INVOLVED!
VUSA has a diverse funding
pool and, as a registered NPO
and PBO, obtains funds through
CSI funding, grants and events.
We are grateful for the support
from Bishops, Coronation and
others. To donate your time or
money, or for more information,
please contact Nikki Matthews
or Brendan Fogarty (1987W).
nmatthews@bishops.org.za
bfogarty@bishops.org.za
+27 21 659 1038
vusarugbyacademy.com
12-year-old Asemahle Mpemba,
chatting to her about rugby before
helping her work on her maths.
His visit shone a spotlight both
on the urgent need to look after
the planet, and on the importance
of providing safe, nurturing spaces
for our children.
Thanks to Coronation, the
Digibus continues to serve as
a mobile classroom for 1,400
children every week, bridging
literacy and digital gaps. But this
vehicle is reaching the end of its
lifespan, and there is an urgent
need for sustainable support to
ensure uninterrupted learning.
The Bishops community remains
a critical part of VUSA’s continued
success. The inspiring annual
Investec 24-Hour Cycle Challenge
raised over R1-million. The ECD
Angels, a group of dedicated
Bishops parents, continue to
bring warmth and wonder into
the lives of our youngest learners
at Likhwezi Educare in Langa.
Combined VUSA and Bishops
Prep outings promote greater
understanding between children
who live in different socioeconomic circumstances, but who
have shared hopes and dreams for
their future. And then there’s the
Bishops Grade 5 and 6 Christmas
Party, a tradition that turns one
December day into a long-lasting
memory for VUSA’s children.
Looking to the future, we are
in the process of transforming a
decommissioned school in Langa
into the VUSA Hub of Excellence,
a space that could become a pillar
for education, social enterprise
and opportunity. Imagine a library
overflowing with books; a computer
lab where children unlock the
power of technology; an art and
music room that fuels creativity;
and a social enterprise hub that
empowers local entrepreneurs.
We have completed the computer
lab and the therapy room, offering
children a space to learn, heal and
grow. With the right support, the
library, art room, community
workshop/homework classroom
and deli will follow, set to open
by January 2026.
VUSA is not just a programme.
It is a movement of people who
care: coaches, facilitators, parents,
volunteers, donors and children
who refuse to accept the status
quo. As Yandisa stands on the field,
and calls his team’s next play, he is
no longer just a boy playing rugby.
He is a child with a future shaped
by those who believe in him.
THE OLD DIOCESAN | 81
