We are inviting South Africans to make a difference in education, with our new I Support Education initiative.
I Support Education seeks to address two key educational challenges in South Africa: Digital training for teachers, and maths education for learners.
Digital education holds enormous potential to catapult the South African basic education system well into the twenty-first century, if teachers themselves are properly trained to use emerging education technology to its full potential in an educationally sound way.
Parallel to that, maths education for learners at primary school level is critical not only for individual success, but for the well-being of the country’s growth and economic development.
“Every South African values education,” says CEO Christina Watson, “But it’s often difficult to know where to help, or how your donations and contributions are spent. With I Support Education, we wanted to create a way for any South African not only to donate to a teacher’s digital education training or a school’s maths education, but for them to see exactly where and how that money is spent.”
Via Afrika’s I Support Education initiative challenges members of the public to get involved in two ways:
1. Support a teacher wanting to undergo digital education training through the Via Afrika Digital Education Academy, or
2. Support an eligible primary school wishing to subscribe to the Via Afrika Tabtor Maths programme.
How to support a Teacher
The Via Afrika Digital Education Academy (VADEA) provides training courses for teachers to grow their knowledge, skills and confidence in digital technologies and digital education practices. Teachers who have applied and been identified by Via Afrika to participate in VADEA digital training courses are listed on the I Support Education website (www.isupporteducation.co.za).
Members of the public can read the profiles of these teachers and the courses they would like to take, and opt to sponsor one or more to undergo training through the Via Afrika Digital Education Academy by clicking a “Support Me” button. A sponsor can fund a course in whole or in part.
As a sponsor, you will be able to monitor your selected teacher’s fundraising status. When enough funds have been raised for the training, the teacher will complete the course. As a sponsor, you will receive a letter of thanks from the teacher, and confirmation that the teacher has successfully completed the training session.
How to support a School
Via Afrika has selected a number of eligible primary schools from a pool of applicants to participate in the initiative. Their profiles can be viewed at www.isupporteducation.co.za.
These schools’ fundraising efforts will go towards a one-year subscription for each learner in the Via Afrika Tabtor Maths programme, training for teachers on how to implement Via Afrika Tabtor Maths successfully, and ongoing support for teachers from the Via Afrika team to ensure successful implementation.
Sponsors can monitor the progress of the fundraising for their selected school. After the target amount is reached, sponsors will receive a letter of thanks from the school’s principal.
At the end each school term, Via Afrika will provide sponsors with an aggregated report on how much time learners have spent working on Via Afrika Tabtor Maths, how many worksheets have been completed, and most importantly, how the students’ skills are improving in Maths.
At the end of the subscription year, sponsors will receive a final aggregated report on what progress the learners have made.
Applying for support
A teacher wishing to apply for support to complete a VADEA digital training course or a school wishing to fund a Tabtor programme can apply to I Support Education for assistance through the I Support Education website (www.isupporteducation.co.za). Eligible schools are limited to three schools at a time to make reaching enough funds more achievable.
