Focus on iThemba is making a difference

Having started almost ten years ago, Focus on iThemba is doing just what its name implies: bringing hope to those whose lives it touches on a daily basis.

Through its work in the Valley of a Thousand Hills, the education of children at the iThemba Academy and its foster care programme, the organisation is making a difference.

“The staff, supporters, parents and caregivers bear testament to the united effort that is being made by the organisation towards raising future leaders and changing lives,” said Danie van der Heever, CEO and Chairperson of Focus on iThemba.

Prior to starting Grade R at the school, most of the children had not had formal schooling and therefore lacked the foundational skills needed to set them up for success in future life. Adjusting to routine and being introduced to the basic concepts of numeracy and literacy often takes up most of the year and requires dedicated, sustained and completely focused efforts by the teaching staff. This is done in the belief that the learners will continue through to Grade 12 and beyond with a firm academic foundation.

‘One can truly appreciate the progress of the children in our school by looking back to when they first started here,” said Sue Sage, principal of the iThemba Academy.

Kruger added, “It is with much excitement that we announce that we have achieved our goal of extending the school to Grade 4 next year, making it possible for the organisation to offer an opportunity to change the lives of an additional 20 pupils next year.”

The building of a new crèche on the Focus on the iThemba campus in 2015, will also enable the organisation to extend its reach to bring hope to many more children of the pre-primary age group.