The Old Diocesan Issue 13 - Magazine - Page 89
FORCE FOR GOOD
Rather than confining those
opportunities to a property in
Rondebosch, we should be doing
our best to give more young people
access to quality education and
economic participation.
Kids who can read, reason and
solve problems grow into adults
who build businesses, create jobs
and strengthen communities.
Empowering more children
expands our collective future.
But uplifting underprivileged
communities will always be a
challenge, and high expectations
need the right support for success.
In Investec Private Bank, we have
been fortunate to find a significant,
philosophically aligned sponsor.
“Being invested in the Western
Cape means investing in both the
potential and the wellbeing of its
young people,” explains regional
head Jerome Passmore. “We are
proud to support VUSA’s work in
creating pathways that help young
people realise their potential and
participate meaningfully in South
Africa’s future economy.”
For three years, Investec has
backed VUSA’s maths programme
– a long-term commitment that
has given us the security to test,
learn and adapt, always with the
goal of achieving the best possible
outcomes for children.
BREAKING DOWN
LANGUAGE BARRIERS
Matific, our digital maths platform,
is engaging, aligned with South
Africa’s CAPS framework, and able
to meet learners at their individual
level. When they worked on
screen, participating children
appeared to be progressing. But
when we took away the mouse,
the results were less convincing.
We realised that when asked to
read the same question, write the
calculation or explain the answer,
some children struggled. It turned
out that many understood the
numbers, but not the language
of the question.
For children who move from
learning in isiXhosa to learning in
English in Grade 4, it’s a significant
barrier. Just as the curriculum
becomes more demanding, they
must start learning in a language
they’re still trying to master.
Thankfully, because Investec
backed the programme for the
long term, we had the financial
stability to examine these results
and create a better response.
Our new SEED programme
begins with foundational literacy
and numeracy in Grade R, and will
expand to Grades 1 to 3. Children
are taught according to what
they can do, not just according
to their age or grade, allowing
us to address gaps before they
become entrenched.
What I value most about our
relationship with Investec is that
they genuinely want to understand
the kids behind the numbers.
Instead of chasing short-term
results, we have been able to
examine the evidence, adapt our
approach and build a programme
that responds more effectively to
what our children need.
SEED is not a departure from
the work they supported; it grew
directly from it. Investec trusted
VUSA not only to deliver a
programme, but to question
it and improve it. That is the
value of an exceptional funding
partner: it provides the stability to
move beyond short-term results
and build something that will
support children far more
effectively, and for longer.
The same principle applies
to VUSA’s new home. We can
fill a building with computers,
books and activities, but lasting
change will depend entirely on
the foundations we build in the
children who enter it.
Our goal is to create a place that
tells every child, “Much is expected
of you. Much is possible for you.
And you are worth investing in.”
For more information,
contact Nikki Matthews or
Brendan Fogarty (1987W).
Partners who show long-term
commitment, such as Investec,
are critical for VUSA’s success.
nmatthews@bishops.org.za
bfogarty@bishops.org.za
+27 21 659 1038
vusarugbyacademy.com
THE OLD DIOCESAN | 85
