The Valley Project

2016 saw the first project involving 16-17 year-old South African students working in rural township schools, painting, decorating and teaching. Originally called The South African Student Project, it  involves 24 students and two teachers working for 2 weeks (one of which is in their school holidays). The students have to raise the costs of all the paints and materials used during the project.

For almost all of these students it was the first time they, or their parents, had ever been in a rural township. Therefore for the first time they experienced the lack of provision and poverty experienced by so many of their fellow South Africans.

The aim of this project is to:

• Provide students in South Africa with an opportunity to do something ‘special’ and gain an understanding of the issues and challenges facing a large number of young people in rural township areas.
• Increase the students’ knowledge and understanding of the causes of HIV and AIDS and its impact.
• On return to their schools to provide a group of young people able to work within the school to support in the education to prevent the spread of HIV and AIDS – no matter how hard staff try to inform pupils in schools they will not be as effective as having other students bringing their knowledge and experience to a lesson.
• To provide a unique experience for students in an impoverished school in the Valley of a Thousand Hills – an opportunity to mix with and develop the English skills of the local young people – a lasting memory in the form of a new building or classrooms redecorated.

Having successfully led the Valley Project last year, with Margaret’s support, the staff at Kloof High are now going to take over running the project. This is such wonderful news meaning that the project has become fully sustainable. Kloof High will continue to work with Hillcrest High, joining the two schools in this wonderful venture. Having created the connection between these two local high schools and the township schools in the valley, has allowed this project to have a long lasting and continuing legacy.

Help us to keep our projects going, please donate now. Every single penny goes where it is needed and every penny goes a long way.