Sawabona Africa

Internship

From Germany to Soweto: An internship at PYMA

Those most likely to be disadvantaged by low levels of literacy are children born into low-income households. Households with less disposable income have less exposure to the broad range of instruments that aid rich literacy such as books, cultural activities, storytelling, imaginative play and embodied games. In this blog Diane writes about her daughter Veyda’s internship to PYMA and how she helped with supporting school literacy challenges.

no child should go to school hungry

No child should go to school hungry

Hunger: A major challenge to learning

When asking children at our charity partner, PYMA, about one of the biggest challenges to learning, the first answer was hunger. Children cannot concentrate or learn on an empty stomach.

Thousands of children in South Africa go to school hungry every day. In this blog, I share some of challenges faced in South Africa and how we are supporting children.

uthando sawabona africa

Sawabona Africa and Uthando (Love)

Flying into Cape Town International Airport gives you the first glance of the breadth of experience, which awaits you. The pilots often give you an aerial view of the coastline and Table Mountain, and as you get closer to the airport you catch a glimpse of the massive townships almost backing onto the runway. This is where our partner charity Uthando (love) South Africa is making a meaningful contribution. Read this blog to find out more.

Cape Town

On the Road in South Africa – A journey of impact

South Africa, a popular tourist destination. Breathtaking scenery, the famous winelands, Michelin quality dining at a small price, a beautiful friendly rainbow nation that welcomes tourists with open arms are just some of the reasons that people visit South Africa and keep coming back. I visit South Africa with a different purpose. Apart from visiting old friends and family, I now have new Sawabona Africa friends and partners who make my visit so memorable and full of joy and hope. Join me in this blog as I take you behind the tourist spots to meet some of our remarkable partner charities.

School Cone

Back to School in South Africa: School readiness gaps for children in South Africa

When I moved to Germany, I learnt about the ‘Schultüte’. This is a cone given to children when they start the first class filled with everything children need for school and loads of sweets. In South Africa, learners start their school year in January without a ‘Schultüte’. In this blog I explore the pressing issue of inadequate school readiness for the vast majority of South Africans.

Bright Start. Bright Smiles

A small contribution – a large impact: Child Sponsorship in South Africa

In South Africa, a good school education usually depends on the financial means of the parents. Unfortunately, the colour of your skin and where you were born still largely determines which school a child attends. Bright Start not only provides poorer children with a good education through sponsorships, it also supports them in their overall long term development. In this blog you will learn more about the school situation in South Africa and how you can help a child receive a better education by sponsoring a child.

About Sawabona AFrica_our story

Falling in love with PYMA

Imagine going to school in a class that is overcrowded. Hungry. You have started school without the basic fine motor skills, or entry level language skills and you just can’t keep up. When you go home after school, you have nobody to help you with your homework, or your caregiver can not read. Your neighbourhood is rife with gangs, drugs, alcohol abuse, crime and high unemployment.

whites only

Being educated in apartheid South Africa – to founding Sawabona Africa

What was it like growing up under apartheid? Was there a difference in the education you received as a white person compared to the rest of the population? What was your reality? These are the questions I reflect on even more since starting Sawabona Africa.