Knysna Education Trust

The N.Wales and NW England Passport Rotary Club  calls for all Clubs to allow an underprivileged child to attend school in the Knysna area of South Africa. 

The History of KET

Knysna Education Trust has been tackling the standard of ECD in South Africa since the democratic elections in 1994.   Today there is still no Government provision for pre-education and children whose families cannot afford to pay for private education do not start school until the age of 7.  So, disadvantaged children never catch up. 

Knysna Education Trust started in 1993, when a small group of individuals intervened with concern that the standard of ECD in disadvantaged communities would not be up to scratch when the education system opened after the democratic elections in 1994. Today KET stands as a model for the whole country.

Today, KET ETD facilities cover the vast area stretching from Wilderness to Plettenburg Bay and Nature’s Valley and far inland into the rural areas. KET has 8 trustees and employs 27 staff, including the staff at The Learning Tree – KET’s model preschool, working to address all critical areas of early education. 

The circumstances in rural areas lead to women opening their doors to take care of children despite having little business knowledge or early childhood development training. These facilities are not always structurally safe, parents struggle to afford fees and the children attending face hunger.

It is the job of KET to transform these local groups, led by the mothers themselves, into approved ECD facilities under the Children’s Act.  Today, 130 ECD facilities are providing education, nutrition and play, with teachers and principals trained by KET.  

KET is run on the basis of donations and Rotary has played a large part in helping to sustain the work.  Knysna Rotary Club has supported KET for many years.  Tarporley Rotary Club first applied for a District Grant, to allow the provision of the organisation’s play-based literacy and numeracy materials. Then, 3 years ago, Tarporley was asked by Knysna Rotary Club to become the host in a joint application for a global grant of $60,000 which has allowed 30 more pre-schools to be set up.

A part of the overall mission of KET is the programme “Adopt a Child’s Education” (ACE). The yearly fee for every child attending one of the pre-schools is the equivalent of app.£120 per annum. There is a long waiting list of children whose families are unable to afford the fee (Many are living at the breadline).  Our project has been to find sponsors, or the equivalent funding, for as many children as possible. We have today reached 55 children sponsored. When a club or an individual sponsors a child, the Team at KET send details of the child and ongoing progress reports to the sponsor. 

There are still 112 children unable to attend school. 

The N.Wales and NW England Passport Rotary Club has picked up the baton and has pledged to help every one of those children to start school.  How can other Clubs help?

• Your Club could “adopt” one or more children. (for one child, £120, with an engagement for 3 years.
• Join the “Leftover Coin Appeal”.   The idea was launched by  E-Rotary 1220 and their appeal for leftover coins (any currency, however out-of-date) has raised an amazing £1500, which is allowing 6 more children to start school).  If your Club decides to collect left over moneys, N.Wales and NW England Passport Rotary Club will arrange to pick it up and promptly manage the exchange and transfer to KET. 

Full details of the project can be found here. 

For further information, please contact Ann Williams.