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CHRISTEL HOUSE SIMUNYE
Establishing school partnerships between schools from privileged and marginalised areas.
-33.91669617917, 18.6560594
OUTPUT
Christel House mobilises 120 children, 120 parents and 24 teachers from 12 schools to build social capital by discovering the worlds of the others.
OUTCOME
Through discovering the world of others, over 90% of learners said, they feel more confident and their relationship building skills improved in multicultural settings - key elements in building social capital.
HIGHLIGHT
Simunye brought together 50 principals, community leaders, university officials and researchers from various institutions across the Western Cape to craft solutions for the development of social capital for schools in an unequal society.
My realisation today was that there are other learners who are not as fortunate as myself and my peers, but that does not define us as learners, because we all got along very well, and our common ground is education
The youth unemployment rate in South Africa is over 50%. Born into poverty, young South African lack the perspective to build a life different from what they know.
The Simunye ("We are one") project by the Julius Baer Foundation and the non-profit school Christel House builds partnerships between schools from different socioeconomic backgrounds. Through jointly organised activities, privileged and disadvantaged children get to be together. Recognising the similarities between each other, they can form long-lasting relationships which lay the basis for personal networks and social mobility.
Quick Facts
- South Africa, Cape Town
- Project support: 2020- 2026
- Grant amount: CHF 200,000 per year
- This project is co-funded
- Goal: Providing holistic education scholarships and bringing together privileged and disadvantaged students to create long-lasting relations across the wealth divide, improving economic connectedness and mutual respect in South Africa.
With twelve different schools from varying socio economic backgrounds, Simunye 2.0 will facilitate school exchanges, allowing students to experience different learning environments and cultures. This along with additional connections such as a camp, workshops and parent connecting initiatives will develop the necessary deeper understanding of wealth inequality, diversity, and empathy for young leaders with a strong inclination towards positively impacting society.
Equal education for equal opportunity
- Christel House South Africa implemented a holistic educational approach built around a clear mission: A world where poverty does not limit potential.
- The school offers free scholarships to students from 23 of the most marginalised communities in Cape Town.
- In addition to the character-based, career-focused teaching approach, the students and their families benefit from poverty mitigation services such as daily transport to school and back, professional health care, nutritious meals, psychosocial counselling, family assistance as well as career planning and support.
Today was special because children from different backgrounds were taught in one classroom. It's unheard of. We all got along and I realised that we are not so different after all.
- Normally only 52% of South African students finish school. At Christel House, 99% of students attain the national matric diploma, with 93% being placed into tertiary education, apprenticeships or their first jobs.
- Through the Simunye school exchange, connections and perspectives across the wealth divide are broadened whilst opportunities are created for all.
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From a dividing youth...
In unequal societies, children grow up within the separating social perception of "their world" and the "other world" to which they have no access and also lacking adequate education opportunities.
...to an empowering social network.
With personal connections between the two worlds and equal education opportunities, South Africa's young can build social networks that reduce disparities and can lead to more diverse workplaces, healthier communities and a stronger economy.
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