2022 – the year where joy was found in the ordinary and extraordinary. Being a busy Non-Profit Organisation, it can be quite easy to overlook the small moments of joy found in the passing of each day when working towards the more significant milestones, but this past year, we took on the challenge of being intentional joy seekers, and to say that we were deeply enriched by it would be an understatement.
After a disruptive past two years caused by COVID-19, we were grateful to once again experience the joy of having our Programmes operate in full swing. Minds of the 550 little ones in our iThemba Educare Programme continued to be nurtured, stimulated and expanded. Despite the challenges that arose from the damage caused by the April floods, the Programme saw the successful roll-out of Phase Two of the Project Star transformation which included the installation of a third classroom. We continued to empower our partnering teachers and principals through various training programmes, and managed to enlighten the minds of 92 parents on the importance of raising highly capable kids through our partnership with Focus on the Family Africa. The biggest highlight of the Programme however was expanding into Knysna in the Western Cape, and taking ownership of a Pre-School in the local community called Bongani Pre-School. Through the assistance of our founders, Danie and Judy van den Heever, and their daughter, Leanne, we made a few structural improvements to the school and introduced the GROW learning programme into the classrooms.
Closer to Campus, the Scholars in our iThemba Scholars Programme shone like absolute stars! From participating in cultural events and Maths Olympiads to being honoured with half-colours for sport, our boys and girls embraced every opportunity their school year offered. One of the bigger highlights for us was welcoming our youngest scholars to the Programme and seeing them thrive at Waterfall Pre-Primary. They began their exciting new journey at only two years old and showed immense growth and development so early on. We are overjoyed to be welcoming another two little ones to the Programme this year and cannot wait to watch them blossom just as much!
Ending off the year, we had the privilege of honouring the living legacy of our founders by officially opening the Legacy Standing Stone, a symbolic water-feature situated outside the Campus Cafe and Kit Shop. This event held great significance in our lives as we celebrate our 20th founding anniversary this year, and it was extremely special to mark this auspicious occasion in a gathering with friends, donors and our Campus sustainability partners, Waterfall Schools.