Situated just a few kilometres from Hillcrest a remarkable organisation, Focus on iThemba, is steadily making a positive contribution to many lives. Established in 2003, by retired Durban businessman Danie van den Heever, iThemba (meaning a place of hope) is a non-profit, public benefit (18a) organisation restoring hope in people’s lives.   In addition to providing quality cluster foster homes for children orphaned by AIDS the campus has recently opened an independent school, the iThemba Academy.

Musa (left) from the iThemba Academy and Jason Temlett from Kearsney College pictured painting a school building at the newly established iThemba Academy.

 

“The vision for the Academy is a strong one,” explained Danie. “I believe in ten years time it will be a school of excellence, offering world class education not only to the iThemba children but to those from the Embo and Hillcrest community. The school will be a sought after educational establishment with an enrolment of up to 300 learners.”

 

From left Musa, Christopher, Jason Temlett from Kearsney College and Nandi from the
iThemba Academy pictured outside one of the newly painted buildings at the Academy.

 

The iThemba team works collaboratively with surrounding schools in the area to ensure that they provide a rich programme for learners right down to an individual level. Classes range from Pre-school (Grade OOO to Grade R) to Primary School (Grades 1 to 7) which cover the scope of the educational delivery. Key focus areas of the Academy are to develop the ability in learners to set personal goals and take responsibility for their achievements, and to lay foundations that encourage further studying at a tertiary level.

 

Currently there are 13 pupils enrolled - this number will rise in 2009 as staff at iThemba concentrate on launching to the broader Hillcrest market and fundraising efforts to expand the school’s facilities. As there is a definite need for additional schools in the area staff believe that the Academy will soon be on the ‘most desirable’ list.

 

Sharing and linking with the community is a key objective of the iThemba Academy. On Friday 1 August 60 learners from Kearsney College, as part of their outreach programme, visited the Academy and spent the afternoon painting school buildings and digging trenches for computer cables.

 

“We want to help where we can,” said Jason Temlett, a Grade 10 pupil from Kearsney. “We are all part of the community and are all one big family. We all learn a lot of humility through these outreach programmes.”

 

It is hoped that partnerships like these will continue to bloom and that the Academy will grow from strength to strength.

 

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