PUTCO donates R230, 000 to St Mary’s Junior School

Franco Pisapia of Putco Corporate Social Investment Foundation presented a cheque for R230 000 to Des Hugo, headmistress of St Mary’s Junior School.

According to Hugo the generous donation will enable educators from under-resourced early learning centres, and schools in townships and informal settlements to attend the annual conference on the Africa Reggio Emilia Alliance approach to education.

The Reggio Emilia approach is an educational philosophy focused on preschool and primary education. It was developed by teacher Loris Malaguzzi and the parents of the villages around Italian town, Reggio Emilia after the second World War.

The conference will be held at St Mary’s School from 24 to 26 June.

Hugo acknowledged Putco’s role in uplifting communities and its mission to make a difference for the youth of South Africa. She said, “The company’s substantial contributions in the past have enabled over 800 educators from disadvantaged settings to attend similar Reggio conferences in 2011, 2012 and 2013.”

Hugo and Tessa Browne, founders of the alliance said the Reggio approach started after the World War in 1945, and resonated with the South African scenario at the end of apartheid.

In 2008, after their visit to Reggio Emilia, Hugo and Browne started the alliance in South Africa. They connected with members of the Reggio International Network and shared aspects of implementation via blogs, skype and email. Browne said, “A Reggio workshop for participants of previous conferences on the Reggio approach was also held at Little Saints (the junior school at St Mary’s Waverly) on 25 May last year.

“During this workshop, teachers from the pre-primary department at St Mary’s shared some of the projects done recently at Little Saints. The journey continues as we plan the conference in June, and future workshops and opportunities for professional development on the Reggio approach.”