We run a number of school based and community programmes and initiatives, all of which have a clear development focus.
Training for school principals and teachers
BEFSA training programmes are delivered by experts in their field whom give of their time freely. All our workshops are delivered within the broad context of school improvement. We provide training for teachers on different aspects of curriculum development. Over the years this has included workshops on Maths, Science, Information Technology and Life Orientation. Within our Life Orientation programmes we run extensive training on increasing awareness within schools on HIV and AIDs.
School Partnership Initiative
BEFSA promotes a school partnership programme for schools in the UK and South Africa. By linking schools in the UK with a partner school in South Africa we provide both UK and SA pupils with the opportunity to work together and in particular to share and to celebrate their own cultures. Within this broad framework of partnership working BEFSA’s expectation is for mutual support and common benefits.
As the focus of BEFSA’s work in South Africa is in the province of the Eastern Cape all UK schools are linked to schools located in this province.
Visit the school partnership page for more information.
Masambe Micro-Credit Scheme
BEFSA runs a micro-business start-up programme to support unemployed women in the Eastern Cape. Facilitated by micro loans, the programme provides women with financial support, business mentoring and key skills to start and sustain their own businesses.
Visit the micro-business loans page for more information.
Black South Africans [are] shaping their country’s future for the very first time after decades of oppression.
Jon Snow, Journalist and BEFSA Patron
Youth development
BEFSA runs an extra-curricular programme for 14-25 year olds known as The President’s Award (TPA). This programme, which is known as the Duke of Edinburgh’s Award Scheme in the UK, is aimed at empowering and developing young people through a series of prescribed challenges within 3 Award levels: Bronze, Silver and Gold. Within each level each participant has to undertake a period of community service, complete an adventurous journey, participate in a sport and pursue an interest/pastime in a sustained way over a prolonged and prescribed length of time. To date 236 students from schools in the Amathole West Schools District have completed either their Bronze and Silver Awards.
One student has completed his Gold Award whilst attending Fort Hare University.
Repairs to school buildings
BEFSA undertakes minor building projects – resources permitting -, in schools affected by natural (floods or tornadoes) or man-made disasters (fires). These projects include the replacement of school roofs and the building of new classrooms at primary and secondary schools. We also work to improve sanitation facilities in schools by providing new toilets for staff and children.
Recycling of school furniture
We provide BEFSA schools with furniture, classroom equipment, computers and books which we recycle from schools and offices in the UK. We gather all the furniture and equipment in the UK and ship it to South Africa in large 40 foot containers twice a year.
New libraries scheme
In recent years BEFSA has worked hard to create new libraries in schools in the Amathole West Schools District. We have done this to provide children in schools with the opportunity to sample a range of books (fiction and non-fiction) and to develop a love for reading in communities where no library facilities have existed before.