DUNDEE KZN: Quality education thanks to KHULA
KHULA Education also works to offer a support system to both students and educators
From humble beginnings on the banks of the Buffalo River to making a huge difference in the education sector, KHULA Education is all about empowering others.
But KHULA Education would not be a thing today if not for David Rattray. David Rattray was a legend locally and internationally and following his murder in 2007, his wife Nicky and sons Douglas, Andrew and Peter set up the David Rattray Foundation to continue his legacy of offering opportunity through education to the local Zulu people.
“Our ambition is to provide a quality education for as many children as possible in David’s name, so that they might fulfill their potential and his dream,” said Nicky Rattray.
Today, the David Rattray Foundation operates locally as KHULA Education and supports 21 schools, over 6,000 students and 200 educators.
“Our aim is to enhance the existing, locally provided government education by working with teachers, students and parents to offer training, teaching and investment through resources. The schools we work with are deeply rural and severely under-resourced. We want to offer all students, regardless of their background, a quality education from pre-school years through to graduation from high school.” a statement from the organisation read.
KHULA Education also works to offer a support system to both students and educators.
KHULA Education has four main programmes that allow them to work across a child’s first contact with school to when they are planning ‘what’s next’ as they finish their education.
The programmes are:
Early Childhood Development: KHULA runs three pre-schools with over 180 children attending. Teachers and teaching assistants create daily activities that are underpinned with strong Numeracy and Literacy skills, which will be vital as children progress into Primary School learning. Supplementary Teaching: Primary and Secondary School programmes are designed to support current in-school learning with a particular focus on English and Maths.
Life Skills and Job Readiness: Whereby they help youth shape their future in their last years of Secondary School by running subject choice and study skills workshops. The workshops help final year students apply for tertiary study and better prepare for life after school. KHULA has worked with 1 280 youth in the last two years. Educator Development: KHULA works with educators and principals to strengthen their capacity to prepare and deliver quality lessons to students. The programme offers a mixture of mentorship, workshops and technology solutions to help aid day-to-day teaching and drive results.
Covid-19, however, forced KHULA to rethink the life skills programme, which is usually delivered in a large part through camps. Forced to adapt and overcome, KHULA has come up with incredible innovation and expansion as they now take the courses to schools and to recent graduates, meeting them where they are.
“We have developed new partnerships, being able to offer more courses to more people through technology.”
They most recently partnered with Google to offer 100 scholarships to their Grow with Google programme. The programme offers 4 courses in IT Support, UX design, Data Analytics and Project Management, high demand areas that set students up for success in the job market.
With a driven and dedicated team eager to make a difference, KHULA Education will continue to empower and inspire many youngsters for years to come.
For more information about KHULA Education, contact 071 624 2257 or visit their website HERE.
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