School has lost government funding

conversion factor =
R195,000 = $24,400
R8000 = $993.92

Dear Debra

Its been too long since we last communicated,things are
fine in SA Schools have just started again on monady for educators and yesterday
for learners. we are looking forward to a prosperous year.

I am aware that you are working in a process of raising
funds for our school library and we are waiting for the day the library will be
built.
The reason i am sending you this email is because we
are finding ourselves in a disastrous situation financial. Our school is non fee
government school meaning that the parents are not paying for the education of
their children. The government is giving us R195 000,00 per year to run the
school. In the past that money was supplemented by the donations we were
receiving from the private book suppliers who were giving us 10 % of the amount
of books we bought from them and we could run the school and pay our debts.
Since last year the book suppliers were withdrawn and the government is
supplying the books by itself as a result we are not getting the 10% that was
assissting us financially. That has crippled us seriously. We are unable to pay
all our debts.
For this month and next two months up to March we will
be unable to pay our two Grade R educators which are employed by the sgb. Each
one of them is getting R 8000,00 meaing therefore we are falling short of
R48000,00. We are asking if your institution can to donate the sum up to that
amount to help those educators which we do not want to loose.

It will be appreciated if that can happen starting from
this month. We know that we are diverting from our project but i have tried many
institutions in SA in vain.

Thanking you in advance for your support

Regards

Mr Mnconywa

SA ranked 45 out of 60 in talent survey

SA's ability to attract and retain talent is being hindered by shortfalls in education, according to the findings of a new global talent index.

The new study, released on Monday by research group Heidrick & Struggles in conjunction with the Economist Intelligence Unit, said that a lack of emphasis on education in SA was one of the biggest threats to the country's ability to fulfill its potential to attract and retain talent within its workforce.

Overall, SA was ranked 45 out of the 60 countries that were analysed in the 2011 Global Talent Index. Its ranking showed a marginal improvement on its previous ranking in the first index, published in 2007, when it was placed 24 out of 30.

"However, it must be noted that other countries are expected to reduce the gap between themselves and the US, which leads the world for talent and is projected to remain at the top spot in 2015, mainly through increased spending on education, as well as through more open labour laws," Heidrick & Struggles said.

The survey found that talent across the globe was outstripping supply and that countries were not moving fast enough to prepare workers for the needs of tomorrow's economy.

The index analysed and compared the countries according to seven indicators: demographics, the quality of compulsory education, the quality of university education, the quality of the labour force, the degree to which the work environment nurtures talent, the mobility and relative openness of the labour market and the countries' proclivity to attract talent. Each of these indicators consisted of several components or sub-categories for which each country was awarded points and ranked in relation to the rest of the countries.

The most dramatic improvement SA was expected to make was in its proclivity for attracting talent. Currently ranked at number 41, the country was expected to move into the 30th position by 2015.

This is a relative yet significant improvement on the country's results in the previous Global Talent Index - in 2007, SA was placed last in this category, out of the 30 countries studied.

To ascertain what would make people choose to work in each country, the researchers examined levels of personal disposable income and employment growth there. Both of these figures are expected to improve - SA was found to have the 17th fastest-growing workforce and was projected to move into 12th place by 2015, Heidrick & Struggles said.

The number one country in terms of its proclivity for attracting talent was Singapore, followed by Hong Kong, then the US.

Similarly, SA was found to have a work environment that was relatively effective in nurturing talent.

The survey showed that SA did not display a great degree of openness of its labour market, being ranked 45 out of the 60 countries. "To improve this, more foreign nationals would need to be hired and openness of trade would need to be improved.

"Additionally, while SA was found to be doing an increasingly good job of attracting foreign direct investment when the previous Global Talent Index was released, this situation appears to be in reverse and urgently needs to be reassessed," Heidrick & Struggles said.

Poor performance on the educational front was, however, the biggest thorn in the country's side. Insufficient enrollment and spending on tertiary education, as well as a shortage of internationally recognised universities, put SA in 48th position in terms of the quality of university education, and would see it drop down to 50th place by 2015.

"The prognosis for compulsory schooling is not good, either. Although enrollment in secondary schooling is increasing, children are not completing their schooling, spending on education is insufficient, pupil to teacher ratios are increasing and the problem of adult illiteracy continues to escalate," the research group said.

This left SA with a ranking of 43 in terms of the quality of its compulsory schooling, which would drop to 49th position by 2015.

With the quality of its labour force ranking it in position 38, SA was just ahead of Sri Lanka and Mexico. This factor was measured according to the number of employees engaged in research and development, the quality, language skills and technical skills of the workforce and the number of local managers, and SA seems set to remain in this position.

Plans for the Future

Yesterday, the Jacobs family made a large financial donation to the Fund. During our meeting we made some important decisions about finding transportation for the thousands of books in storage as well as video conferencing between schools/students. We are thrilled to have the Jacobs' family help with this important endeavor. They visited the Township last summer while on vacation and were so moved with the children's plight.

We are planning a Beef 'n Beer at our local firehouse in January 2012. By that time, we should have the architect plans for the building of the school library. Besides the structure, we will need a librarian's desk, tables/chairs for the students, shelving for the books and computers. If successful in in arranging container shipping, donations of home computers would be greatly valued.

Fundraiser Canceled

Fundraiser Canceled

Unfortunately, the number of tickets sold did not warrant the cost of the event. The Board greatly appreciates the interest expressed by many businesses in donating gift certificates.

Perhaps when the economy returns to a better level, we will host a similar event.

Thank you!

Tickets for Fundraiser

Event management for Miss Vicky's Children's Library Fundraiser powered by Eventbrite

LIBRARY FUNDRAISER

On September 10th, the Foundation will be sponsoring a fundraiser to build a school library for the children of Khayelitsha who live below the poverty level--many have never worn new clothes or undergarments. Every new school year, each student receives one pen or pencil, which is expected to last the academic year. The limited paper supply dictates the amount of notes a teacher can give to her class in a day.

These children live in shacks with limited access to electricity and running water. The government does not provide an adequate learning environment, school supplies, or current teaching materials. Unless these children are granted the opportunity to obtain a decent education, the poverty cycle of Khayelitsha will continue.

Please help by donating any amount you can. Even $5 makes a big difference and the donation is tax deductible. This is an opportunity to impact some of the nearly 250,000 lives in Khayelitsha and alleviate the poverty in one South African community.