Annual Report

ANNUAL REPORT 2009

By Trevor Johnston, Chief Executive Officer

When Marian Goodman stepped down as Executive Director at the end of 2007 she left a wonderful legacy of a vibrant learning organization that continues to change thousands of young people’s lives in this country. Even though Marian has moved on, she has not moved far; she currently sits on the Board of Trustees as Chairperson, where she continues to ensure the organization maintains a high level of integrity and quality. The old saying that once you leave Educo Africa, you never go very far holds true in her case.

Her guidance, mentorship and leadership had prepared me well over seven years as Programme Director and it was a relatively smooth transition into becoming Chief Executive Officer at the beginning of 2008. To walk in the shoes of such an amazing woman was going to be a difficult task for anyone taking over. As I accepted the task of taking Educo Africa into the future, embarking on this journey of huge responsibility and accountability, I was aware of the many challenges ahead. The task of maintaining a culture of learning, fun, quality and deep care for all involved was easy because a solid foundation had been built by Marian. However, the challenge of a worldwide economic recession  looming that would ultimately affect our funding; the departure of key staff and the recruitment of suitable replacements; ensuring long term financial sustainability; and maintaining the high standards of excellence that this organization had become known for, was a different kettle of fish altogether - it was a real baptism of fire.

Looking back over the last year we have done remarkably well, and the task has been made easier by the wonderful support of staff and friends of Educo Africa, both locally and internationally. Leadership is ultimately about a trusting relationship that has been built on Honesty, Humour and Humility. Here, I have been lucky to work with a group of people that all embody that sense of leadership, making my task so much more rewarding. We also recruited some amazing and dedicated staff members that have proven to be resilient and dynamic in nature, with an abundance of passion for making a difference in people’s lives.

We too have ridden the wave of funding shortages and this has been our biggest challenge. We have seen many NGO’s close their doors due to a lack of funding and this too is a difficult time for us all. I hope that Government and the Private Sector will see the vital and invaluable role that the Non-profit sector is playing in nation-building, and support them financially. Government is overwhelmed by the social problems we face and non-profits are an important cog in the wheel of service delivery. Our strategy of developing stronger partnerships with our existing clients and funders, who value our service, is important for long term sustainability but also to address social issues more holistically through multi-intervention programmes. We thank all our funders and clients for their continued support and for adding value to our organization as well.

Lastly I want to thank the participants that are willing to embark on a journey of self discovery, leadership and healing by participating on our courses. Their remarkable courage, leadership, creativity, love and integrity continue to astound me, and in the end make this work so rewarding and worthwhile.

With love and truth,

Trevor Johnston

Chief Executive Officer

OVERVIEW

We continue to develop and grow in our three project streams of Leadership, HIV/AIDS, and Child and Youth Development with over 106 interventions facilitated between March 2008 and February 2009, reaching 1,072 participants.

CHILD & YOUTH DEVELOPMENT PROJECT (CYD)

In the last year, the CYD Project has partnered with seven other NPO’s (whose focus is on working developmentally with youth), and the Department of Social Development. We have sought to deepen the impact of the work of these organizations by developing their capacity to deliver strength-based developmental programmes. We have also delivered Personal Development and Training courses directly to the youth, walking alongside them as they have healed from the shadows of their past; discovered and built on their strengths; acknowledged and overcome their weaknesses and begun their journey to becoming Authentic Serving Leaders of themselves, their families, communities and peer groups. Photo: Solo Time for Participant at Sunset

CYD Project Partners/Clients/Beneficiaries:
Department of Social Development, Area Probation Officers who design and implement diversion programmes for youth in trouble with the law. McGregor Family Centre, Job creation, youth empowerment, family preservation, developmental childcare, residential care, special education. The Music Therapy Community Clinic, Music Therapy & Music activities for underprivileged communities in CPT focus specifically on the areas of Trauma (Heideveld), HIV/AIDS (Nyanga), Health (TB Hospital). Siyakhula Trust, Siyakhula Trust is a NGO whose mission is to assist community leaders, CBOs, NPOs and government officials develop skills so that they can efficiently initiate and manage development and job creation projects to the benefit of the communities they serve. Mohele Mampe Secure Care Facility, Residential care for young people who are awaiting trial. St Michael’s Children’s Home (St Mike’s), A therapeutic and developmental residential facility and drop-in centre for 17 girls. Lerato Place of Safety, Safety residential care for youth who have been affected by crime and violence. James House, A children's home that builds capacity in the family and village to look after the child, rather than to take the child away from his home.

CYD Project Funders: EG Woods Wills Trust (BoE), The South African Breweries Limited, FNB Fund, The Davies Foundation, Fulton Trust, The Hal Miller Fund

SISONKE HIV/AIDS PROJECT

Sisonke’s work has continued to focus on the psycho-social experience of HIV/AIDS. It has worked alongside seven NPO’s who have programmes that focus on Orphans and Vulnerable Children, Child Headed Households and youth infected with HIV/AIDS. The courses we have delivered to participants, both infected and/or affected by the virus, have addressed the issues of discrimination and stigma and developed their capacity to openly address their experiences.

Photo: Participants on a Sisonke Course Team

Initiative

We continue to seek further funding for our Wilderness Experiential learning courses that aim to restore dignity, self confidence and personal visioning in youth infected and affected by HIV/AIDS. The Sisonke Project is nearing the completion of a two year capacity building programme, funded by the Ford Foundation and has, over the last two years, scrutinized its programme management. The outcome of this is a more solid partnership model that better serves our partners, our funders, the long term planning of Sisonke’s interventions and ultimately and most importantly, the beneficiaries. The emphasis is on long term commitment between these four essential stakeholders in Sisonke’s delivery. In November 2008 we organized a networking forum day for those working with HIV/AIDS and Youth. The day was well attended with 15 NPO’s present and our next two year implementation plan is based on the courses requested by these organizations. In June 2009 we will have an external evaluation of the organizational impact of the courses we have delivered over the last two years. We anticipate some celebrations of success and some insight that will strengthen our provision as we move into the coming year.

Sisonke Project Partners/Clients/Beneficiaries:
Yabonga, Support women, men and children infected with or affected by HIV/AIDS. Aims: to bring about meaningful change in their lives, positive healthy living. This includes improved self-esteem, prospects for work, provision of food, better health for selves & families. Hope World Wide, Providing sustainable development programmes in the field of HIV/AIDS. Olive Leaf Foundation, Providing sustainable development programmes in the field of HIV/AIDS. Wolanani, Originally providing home based care and income generating projects for those with HIV/AIDS. Now also working with youth in after-school support programmes Courage Youth Fellowship, responding to the urgent need to empower our youth with skills and knowledge they need to take their rightful place in society, gain life skills and exposure to life experiences in a positive way. Bathandwa Day and Night Care Centre, A day and night care centre that cares for abandoned, HIV+ and physically or mentally disabled children. Observatory Junior School, Providing Primary School Education.

Sisonke Project Funders: The Ford Foundation, AOG Foundation, Truworths Foundation

LEADERSHIP & ENVIRONMENT PROJECT

The Leadership Project also celebrates the development of a new course, Leadership, Schools and Environment. The pilot, funded by The DG Murray Trust and The Polaris Foundation, is due to be delivered in March with the participants of CASE who are based in Hanover Park. It is an initiative that has been created with the help of the Edith Stevens Wetlands Project (Cape Flats Nature). The 7day wilderness Personal Development and Leadership course is to be supplemented with a two day Environmental Sustainability Workshop. This will give the youth a tangible application for their leadership skills on their return to their home community and further develops Educo Africa’s emphasis on environmentally sustainable practice.
Photo: Participant Abseiling

 

Photo: Leadership Participants Swimming in River

In January 2009 a process and impact external evaluation of Educo Africa’s Leadership Project, also funded by The DG Murray Trust, was compiled by Dr Cathi Draper of the UCT/MRC Research Unit for Exercise Science and Sports Medicine and endorsed by Professor Tim Noakes. We were very encouraged by the external evaluation. Nearly all of the Educo Africa Alumni who participated described their experience as being ‘life changing’. The evaluation did highlight the need to refine our Monitoring and Evaluation (M&E) processes so as to identify in more detail the change that occurs as a result of an Educo Africa intervention. We are addressing this and have rigorously scrutinized our old M&E strategies and developed new ones to enable a more accurate measurement and  description of such ‘life changes’ and which of our course outcomes they address.

The open enrolment programme in the December holidays was a logistical masterpiece by our programme manager. Three groups were integrated into a parallel delivery of adventure, challenge and fun based in the Groot Winterhoek Mountains and GWOLC. The feedback from parents was very encouraging as they reported positive changes in their children who showed more respect, consideration, initiative and a new sense of self worth.

Photo: Masakh’Isizwe Students on a Team Initiative
The Leadership project continues to support the tertiary students of Masakh’Isizwe Centre of Excellence and TSIBA University, facilitating leadership courses that seek to increase the students’ awareness of their abilities, and to improve their self concept and understanding of being an authentic serving leader. The project is also assisting Haw & Inglis by conducting their Selection Course to identify leaders for their bursary programme.

Leadership Project Partners/Clients/Beneficiaries:
TSIBA Higher Education and community development, Masakh’Isizwe Centre for Excellence aims to offer bursaries in the Scarce Skills field of Engineering and Built Environment Field (EBE) with first preference to (a) financially disadvantaged Learners (b) women (c) learner from rural areas (Under Resourced Cummunities), Western Cape, CASE (Community Action Towards a Safer Environment), Regis University, Zebra, Haw & Inglis, Leaders Rule (Nathan 7 Scott), December Season Open Enrolment Participants

Leadership Project Funders: The DG Murray Trust, The Polaris Foundation, The Foote Family, client contributions

PARTNERSHIP WITH CAPENATURE, GWOLC

Educo Africa continues to be privileged to do its wilderness courses in the pristine Groot Winterhoek Wilderness Area with the support of CapeNature Conservation and is poised to renew our Memorandum of Understanding to continue this partnership.  During the 2008-9 Financial year Educo Africa ran over 40 Western Cape courses, giving more than 450 participants a rare and valuable wilderness experience, based from our Groot Winterhoek Outdoor Learning Centre (GWOLC).  After a full year without a permanent onsite manager, the new GWOLC management team moved in, in December 2008.  The Eppel family of 5 are enthusiastic about living in the Reserve and implementing new logistical systems as well as creating a new environmental sustainability plan including Permaculture food production, alternate energy sources and effective resource and waste management.  In addition to Educo Africa courses, GWOLC has also hosted Vision K, the Mankind Project, the Shorin Ryu Karate Academy of Discipline, CNC contracted path workers and small group of independent entomologist researchers.

NETWORKING

Photo: Sisonke Market Place Network
Educo Africa continues to seek partners whose core value and delivery is in synergy with our own vision for authentic serving leaders. We have been invited to three new networks this year. We have grown from sharing our experiences, successes and challenges with other organizations, who work with youth at risk in underprivileged communities. Sisonke’s Market Place has also proved motivating and given rise to new and exciting partnerships in the HIV/AIDS sector.

Educo Africa is a member of these Networks:
Sisonke Market Place, hosted by Educo Africa, to share information and member offerings into the HIV/AIDS sector. SAGE-Net (South African-German Exchange Network), is an umbrella organization of various South African and German individuals who facilitate and support non-profit and sustainable development in both countries. It engages in exchange programmes for youth and professionals, which take place in both countries.

INTERNATIONAL

Regis University (SOFE) & Learning Forum:  March 2008 saw the arrival of 12 keen students from the Service Orientated Field Experience course studying masters in NPO management, from the REGIS University in Colerado, USA. They had a brief taste of working in local NPO’s and had the opportunity to attend a learning forum co-hosted by the University of Stellenbosch’s Graduate School of Business alumni, the focus being ‘Living in Changing Times; the Challenge for NPO’s.’ It was a time of mutual learning and benefit, and we look forward to seeing another group next year.

Miracle Corners of the World (MCW) – Tanzania:  The first Educo Africa/ MCW Community Development Leadership Training Programme (CDLT) held in Tanzania in May 2008 was attended by 30 Adults from Miracle Corners of the World’s (MCW’s) various community centres around the African continent including Tanzania, Rwanda and Sierra Leone, as well as members of the New York office and the MCW Board.

The Programme was designed in Cape Town, South Africa by Alfred Hanssen the Africa MCW Coordinator, Tanzanian MCW Coordinator Felix Nyakatale, and Educo Africa. The CDLT Programme delivered by Educo Africa, was a great success with strong connections and networking across community centres achieved. Other outcomes achieved included the empowerment of the MCW Community Development Programme Team to lead vibrant community centres that are spaces for education, exchange, and entrepreneurship, resulting in the team leaving the programme with a written vision, shared purpose, and action plan for fulfilling their vision and shared purpose and making their dreams come true.

EIA Gathering and Learning Event – UK:  The Educo International Alliance (EIA) met in the UK in October 2008 for the annual Gathering. Member schools from Canada, USA, Brazil, Bulgaria, Germany and South Africa were represented. The Gathering served as an international learning platform and a place and time to create vision and strategy for global impact.

The vision now is for the EIA to grow stronger in its role as an international umbrella organization that fundraises for the international projects run between the six international Educo schools as well as provide support for each individual organisation as needed. The EIA also wishes to grow globally and find more partners/members and associates in other countries.

The Educo International Internship Programme continues to run strong. It allows for internship experiences for any Educo staff member in all respective Educo Schools worldwide. This year Educo Africa has been privileged to be the host to four interns, all of them from Educo Germany. In the past we have also welcomed interns from Educo Brazil, Colorado, Canada and Bulgaria.

ON THE EDGE CAMPAIGN

With the assistance of Total Media, and our media partner SABC’s Good Hope FM, we were able to attract the interest of the general public by having Trevor Johnston (Educo Africa’s CEO) live on a portaledge on the side of the SABC Building in Sea Point for a week. The aptly named ‘On The EdgeCampaign’ took place in February 2009 and was successful in raising the public profile of Educo Africa, having attracted approximately R17 million worth of media coverage. (Visit our blog at www.educoafrica.wordpress.com to read more about the campaign.)

Photos: The Portaledge on SABC Building, Deputy Mayor of Cape Town Visiting Trevor on Ledge, Trevor Living On The Edge

FUNDERS

On behalf of Educo Africa, and more importantly our beneficiaries, we would like to take this opportunity to thank all our Funders, Donors and Supporters that helped make our work in 2008/9 possible.

Aart De Lange	F Bawa	N Foley
A Drake	Fiona Budd	Naseegh Long
Ackermans	FNB Fund	National Lotteries (NLDTF)
Allison Fink	Foote Family	Or Shalom Synagogue
Alyce	Fuel Design	Paul Robbins
Andrea Kiep	Fulton Trust	Petra Brinkmann
Anglo American Chairman’s Fund	Greater Good SA Donors	Polaris Foundation
Anne Emmett	Gregory Kirschenbaum	Quincy Leaderman
Anonymous	Hal Miller Fund	Ram Mountaineering
Azriel & Moyra Fine Foundation	Harald Warschke	Richard Melville
Barak Learning & Development Consultants	Haw & Inglis	SA Breweries Ltd
Bruce Fraser	Jeff Pryor	Spocter Family
C Vallet	Josette Cole	Stephanie Whitehead
Capstone Consulting	Julia Godsiff	Steve MacDonald
Cecil & Ruth Hershler	Jutta Kessen	Talpain Holdings, K.Miller
Christa & Jeurgen Wolf	Kerry Alleman	The Davies Foundation
Claudia Linder	Klaus-Peter Reid	The Emissaries
Colin McDonald	Lance Blaau	The Ford Foundation
Coricraft	Levin Family	TLA Poggenpoel
Corrie Gladstein	Lutz Kokemueller	Truworths Social
De Beers Fund	Lutz Kokemueller	Involvement
Deborah Barak	Mankind Project	Virgin Active
Deutsche Bank Foundation	Marji Geldenhuys	Yabonga
DG Murray Trust	Marlene Whitehead
Dry Force	Mary Jo Brown
EDL Cape (Gatehouse)	Mascha Rohner
Education Without Borders	Maureen Ewing
EG Woods Will Trust	Maurice & Sue Bloch