Welcome to Penreach

• Joint winner: 2010 Mpumalanga CSI Making a Difference in Education Awards;
• Tutored one of only 2 learners in South Africa to achieve 100% in Maths and Physical Science in the 2010 NCS examinations;
• Special Award from Mpumalanga Department of Basic Education in 2011 for contribution made to education development in rural schools;
• Tutored the top 2 Physical Science learners in Mpumalanga in the 2011 NCS examinations – both achieved 100%.

The challenges of education in South Africa are comprehensive. In rural communities especially children are in desperate need of help to access quality education. Each year 1.5 million learners start school in Grade R but only 350,000 of these children pass in Grade 12. The school drop-out rate is a defining place to start in understanding the magnitude of the task of ensuring that all South Africans receive a good education. The many and varied reasons for the school drop-out rate are the motivation for Penreach to focus its efforts in a pipeline from early childhood development to career, aimed especially at reaching teachers and children in rural communities.

Penreach Fast Facts:
• ‘Not for profit’ whole school development programme – Section 21;
• 21 Year track record of success – established 1991;
• Donations via the Penryn Trust (Section 18A; IT70/92; 030-149-NPO; PBO 930-004-977);
• Located at Boschrand Farm, R40, Nelspruit, Mpumalanga;
• Shares facilities with Penryn College, a leading independent school for learners from Grade 000 to Grade 12 with a 100% matric pass to date;
• Holistic approach;
• Penreach pipeline annually reaches:
• 2,400 rural teachers;
• 900 schools;
• 400,000 learners;
• 600 girl students
• At least 91% of direct overall beneficiaries (teachers) are women.
• Pipeline of interventions stretches from birth to post-secondary:
• Early Childhood Development (ECD) Phase (Birth-Grade 0);
• Foundation Phase (Grades R-3);
• Primary and InterSen Phases (Grades 4-9);
• FET Phase (Grades 10-12) Maths, Science and Scientific English;
• Strengthening Our Schools – infrastructure development;
• Science Discovery Centre and mobile science laboratory;
• School Management Teams and School Governing Bodies training;
• Leadership development, including mentorship of Principals;
• Post-secondary mentoring of tertiary students;
• Parenting skills;
• Girls’ Clubs – over 600 members already;
• Establishment of Community Councils for Education so that communities can take responsibility for schools and education delivery;
• Collaboration with NGOs to provide infrastructure & services;
• Creating caring structures especially the House System in schools;
• IT mobile learning;
• Interactive Distance Learning;
• Web-based literacy development programmes.

Vision:
In the community, working for educational excellence.

Mission Statement:
“To improve the quality and accessibility of education in under-resourced schools in rural communities”. Quality education should be available to every child. Penreach relies on donor funding to achieve its objectives. It welcomes funding partnerships with organizations who would like to invest in developing quality education in rural communities in South Africa and in so doing, help to lift these communities out of poverty.

Building of the Penreach Shalamuka Centre:
“South Africa is suffering from a shortage of technical skills”. Maths and Science are critical, but there is also an immediate need to produce employable, scientifically literate school-leavers. Penreach has built a magnificent science discovery and technology centre which will include interactive exhibits, laboratories, an auditorium, and a design and technology workshop. This centre will be part of the Department of Science and Technology’s national network of Discovery Centres and has been recognised as a regional centre.

Replication:
Penreach has 21 years of experience in education delivery and is able to provide guidance and expertise to organizations who wish to start-up projects like Penreach in their communities. While based in Mpumalanga, Penreach is being replicated through consultation and/or direct intervention in additional learning communities in Gauteng, Limpopo, Free State, Mpumalanga, Eastern Cape and Western Cape and so has become an organisation of national significance.

Penryn Trust: A registered NPO and PBO (registration numbers: IT70/92; 030-149-NPO; 930004977). Donations made to Penreach via the Penryn Trust are tax deductible. The trustees volunteer their services and have a passion for education development. The trustees are: Paul Harris (Chairman); Rob Snaddon (Vice-Chairman); Ronnie Apteker; Peter Backwell; Yvonne Chaka Chaka; Vernon Cresswell; Tim de Wet; Leah Gcabashe; Stephen Lowry; Judge Phineas Mojapelo; and Bishop Gavin Taylor.

A SENSE OF BELONGING ….
Creating caring structures – the House System

“I am feeling really emotional today; I have never seen this school working together like this. I am so optimistic of what the future holds for my school. I feel that this is a start of new things. You will see the results are going to improve. The children are so excited.”
Mr Sonnyboy Thwala, Principal at Fundinjobo Secondary School, Ehlanzeni, Mpumalanga – a Penreach partner school.