About IThemba

iThemba School Capricorn is a pre-primary school that bridges the educational gap for 75 children between the ages of 3 and 6 years old. We provide early childhood education, English language tutoring and 3 healthy and nutritious meals a day.

Situated in the impoverished area of Capricorn 20km outside Cape Town, iThemba brings hope to many children whose parents are unable to provide nutritious meals and pay for education preparing their children for primary school.

We provide a safe and creative learning environment where children can flourish and develop to their full potential. Emphasis is placed on numeracy, literacy and healthy nutrition. The classes are taught in English to equip the young learners for the South African school system, as the children mainly speak their home languages of Xhosa and Afrikaans.

Our dedicated staff are committed to high levels of education and go the extra mile by involving the community in a number of projects that run throughout the year.  
 

Background

The iThemba School was founded in 2006 by Help Alliance - a non-profit organisation in Germany run by Lufthansa employees - to improve the level of education of children at grass roots level in the poor and disadvantaged communities in Cape Town.

The school was previously based in Philippi but relocated to Capricorn in 2009. Capricorn was previously known as Vrygrond, a socially and economically deprived informal settlement with an unemployment rate of around 70%.

On the 13th of January 2010, iThemba School Capricorn opened its doors to children between the ages of 3 and 6 years old. The school initially catered for 50 children, but in 2011 this number increased to 75, with 25 children in each class. The children receive three years of quality preschool education and care to facilitate entry into a primary school.

The curriculum has a strong emphasis on teaching and learning the English language, however soft skills such as values, attitudes, tenacity and school readiness are also part of the core values of the school. The school provides a secure learning environment to play and learn with the stimulation of cognitive processes. It also establishes a set routine in the lives of the children who are not exposed to structural routine due to their social circumstances and backgrounds.

The committed board of directors is dedicated to the success of this project, and wishes to expand the school's operation in the near future and touch more lives!