Help us help learners with upgrading an under resourced school!
This is Miss South Africa Natasha Joubert’s plea to South Africans. Addressing corporates (and individual
citizens) she outlined the need for a conducive learning environment.
Joubert will spend Mandela Day at Mveledzandivho Primary School in Soweto, refurbishing buildings,
reading to the children and giving an inspirational talk. The reigning queen, alongside Anglo-Gold Ashanti,
has pledged to help the Adopt-a-School Foundation school to reach a standard where the learners and
teachers have the assets, they need to facilitate the best educational outcomes.
The Foundation, a partner entity of the Cyril Ramaphosa Foundation, is a non-profit that supports the
creation and enhancement of a conducive learning and teaching environment in disadvantaged schools,
using a Whole School Development (WSD) model that focuses on school leadership, curriculum,
infrastructure and social welfare. The WSD Programme is the cornerstone of the Foundation’s mandate to
help under-resourced schools in every aspect. The model ensures the schools are equipped with quality
education.
The philosophy fits in with Joubert’s advocacy programme, announced when she was crowned Miss South
Africa in August 2023, which she has centred around building an equal playing field for every learner. She
said: “Growing up in a single parent household – I lost my beloved dad when I was young – life was hard,
and education was a privilege. I was helped to get where I am today, and I want to pass it forward.”
The Back to School for a Day on Mandela Day is the Foundation’s annual initiative commemorating active
citizenship, volunteerism, and organisations that stand on the front line, championing causes that remain
crucial to our society. This critical day in the life of the Soweto school Joubert has chosen to visit already
has two sponsors, AngloGold Ashanti and the Cyril Ramaphosa Foundation on board.
Joubert, who will join First Lady, Dr Tshepo Motsepe during a walkabout at the school, said: “I urge
everyone, particularly corporates looking to make a worthy contribution to education, to get involved.
Adopting a school and providing the necessary funds for infrastructure improvement, curriculum
development and equipment procurement allows learners to thrive.”
Since 2012, the Back to School for Mandela Day initiative has seen corporate partners go back to school
and spend their 67 minutes supporting volunteer activities around schools. This year corporates can join at
R35 000.00 for ten people maximum. The cost includes renovations material and utensils, T-shirts and
refreshments.
AAS Chief Executive Steven Lebere said: “We call upon Corporate South Africa to support this initiative that
will benefit the school with an expanded vegetable garden and renovated structures such as the school
library, computer laboratory, combination court, Grade R play area. We are also looking at having a
curriculum programme such as a virtual reality experience and social welfare service for learners.”
Should you wish to sponsor/adopt a school or dedicate your 67 minutes to the Back to School for Mandela
Day please visit www.adoptaschool.org.za.
Miss South Africa to spend Mandela Day helping resource a Soweto School
Reading Time: 2 minutes
