Funding Sinalo
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Transcript of Funding Sinalo
MARCH 1, 2016
1 | P a g e
Introduction
I, Ludovic Rochat, am a Swiss man of 31-years-old. I am completing my Master
degree at the University of Cape Town in Social Policy and Management, Social
Development department. I arrived in South Africa three years ago to accomplish
my postgraduate study, as well as working in the social field and fighting against
poverty and social inequality. I strongly believe that I came to South Africa with
the specific mission of helping the most unprivileged people to reach a better
standard of living, by becoming free of poverty. Since I arrived in South Africa
in 2013, I have been involved in different townships in Cape Town. I finally chose
to put all my energy in one informal settlement called Capricorn or Vrygrond (see
picture in Appendix A).
By doing volunteerism in a small NGO in Capricorn, I quickly got the opportunity
to get to know the people of the community. Day after day, I realised what it is
to live in a township and what kinds of struggles people are facing on daily basis.
Doing my honours degree at the University of Cape Town, gave me the chance to
do all my paper work in the township of Capricorn. Through numerous interviews,
I met most of the key players in the community, such as various NGO’ directors,
community leaders, school principals and some board members of the community
trust. Last year, as part of my Master study, I did an internship in the largest
NGO of the community. This allowed me to increase my knowledge of the
community and to achieve a better connection with the leaders of Capricorn. For
this year 2016, I have planned to work in this same NGO.
This journey in the community of Capricorn has allowed me to create a clear
understanding of the situation faced by the people of Capricorn. Coming from a
rich country such as Switzerland, it took me several years to adapt to a total
different way of living and to different cultures.
2 | P a g e
My postgraduate study helped me to gather all the necessary figures of the
community, which reflect the level of the social issues faced in Capricorn. The
major issues are low unemployment, low-income level, addictions to substances,
low levels of education, school drop-outs and poverty.
My vision is to eradicate poverty of this township, bringing back dignity in the life
of people, and make Capricorn a beautiful place to live in (see Appendix B). My
strong faith in God and my passion to see the life of people transformed, make
me believing that everything is possible. However, I know that I would need the
support of all South African citizen to achieve such goals.
Sinalo’s Background
To achieve such vision, the people of Capricorn need to be empowered and to
become the change agent of their community. To do so, needless to say that
education is the key factor to empower them. One of the most famous quotes of
Nelson Mandela reminds us, as South African citizens that “Education is the most
powerful weapon which you can use to change the world” (Mandela). As a result,
young people in Capricorn need to have a better access to education, and they
need to gain the required skills and character to be able to affect their
community.
Sinalo, a young black lady of 15-years old is among the future generation of the
rainbow nation. However, if no one helps her inversing the circle of poverty, she
would likely be following the path of her family, still trapped in poverty. Since my
involvement in Capricorn, I saw too many young people who did not have a matric
certificate and were totally left behind by the South African educational system.
They eventually finished hanging around in the township, tempted to follow the
wrong path, and with no future expectations.
3 | P a g e
Sinalo could rapidly become excluded from the system if no resource is mobilised.
Despite the fact that she is a very friendly girl, always having a positive attitude,
she has significant learning difficulties. The recent test done by the educational
psychologist reported that she has a reading and writing level of a child of 9-
years old. The report attached provides all the details (see Appendix C).
From the views of the psychologist and myself, it is obvious that Sinalo urgently
needs to be helped by being enrolled into a more adapted school, focusing on a
skills based approach. The Oakley House fits perfectly with the type of school
for a student like Sinalo.
Family Background:
Sinalo is the third child of a family of 4 children. She has two sisters and one
brother. In contrast to many other families in Capricorn, Sinalo is still living with
both parents. Nevertheless, while Sinalo’s mother is involved in her daughters’
upbringing, the father is totally absent. Working as a taxi driver, he spends most
of his time on the road and when he comes back home, he stays in his room
spending no time with his children. The lack of a father figure in Sinalo’s life has
contributed to her poor personal development. Non-one is encouraging her in
order to bring forth her potential.
Over time, this has resulted of a low esteem and significant lack of self-
confidence. Coming from a poor background, Sinalo is not involved in any extra
activity that could help her to develop her potential and find more confidence. In
turn, she spends most of her time at home watching television. The Oakley House
is a unique opportunity for her to unlock her potential and eventually discover
which fields and activities she is good at and that she likes.
The wide range of activities proposed by Oakley house will significantly help
Sinalo to become more open and extraverted. Due to her shy character, the other
4 | P a g e
siblings are used to take advantage of her by commanding her. Sinalo is always
the one willing to help and rarely complain when asked to something in the house.
Unfortunately, Sinalo and her sisters are facing some situations that affect the
family dynamic and well-being. Sinalo’s father can show extreme violence toward
his wife and he even physically abuses her. Sinalo has recently witnessed a
situation where her father has tried to strangle her mother, almost killing her.
The father must appear in court in January 2016 to be trialled ad judged for this
criminal assault. He might be sent to jail.
Enrolling Sinalo at Oakley house could represent a new life for her, allowing her
to rise above the problems in her house and community. She will likely make new
friends from different backgrounds and find a meaningful and healthy life. This
school represents more than only getting an education but it will give her a new
breath, so essential for a child who has been affected by certain circumstances
of life.
Education Background
Since she has been attending a public school, Sinalo has struggled to follow a
normal curriculum. Every year, in spite of a good attitude, willingness to work hard
and almost 100% attendance, she receives very discouraging reports that does
not reflect her quality of involvement.
After redoing several grades, Sinalo has lost all confidence in her abilities to
achieve success at school. She needs to find a school where she will be rewarded
for her willingness and effort toward the work provided. Last year, she failed
Grade 7, at Thomas Wildschuut primary school, for a second time. A report
including the marks is attached in Appendix D. This school does not allow Sinalo
to redo her Grade 7 again this year. However, redoing the year will not help her
because she should have been placed in a private school many years ago.
5 | P a g e
Sinalo is a student who needs more attention to learn than others do. The fact
that she is very sensitive and a slow learner make difficult for her to be in a
normal school. Her development in major subjects such as English and Math are
so far behind that no other school will accept her.
As the report shows, she needs to focus on a more practical skills approach in
order to help Sinalo to develop her potential. The uniqueness of the program
proposed by Oakley house exactly fits the needs of a young girl like Sinalo. Oakley
school has realised over the past years that too many South African students
were left behind and in need of a different approach of learning. They have
developed a model inspired by Oakley school in the United Kingdom that focus on
practical skills. The programme includes topics such as communication, community,
sport and leisure, home management, environment, number handling, health and
survival, world and work, science and technology, wider world, expressive arts and
beliefs and values. All these modules aim to rebuild self-esteem, foster an
enjoyment of learning, provide a complete education, and help each child identify
his or her own goals and targets. It also identifies and reaches potential in
strengths, remedy weaknesses and improve language skills.
Request & Budget
This funding proposal aims to raise the necessary funding for Sinalo to continue
at the Oakley house School. For this, an amount of R130,000 is required (see
budget below). This amount includes the fee for the 2016 year in addition to all
extra costs for the year. All invoices have been attached in Appendix E.
Oakley school also organises numerous activities throughout the year, such as an
annual camp. Every cost has to be covered by the parents and thus it is
unaffordable for the family of Sinalo. Sinalo’s father works as a taxi driver and
makes an average of R400 per week (see Appendix F). The mother is currently
seeking employment has no income. With an annual income of R19 200 for the
6 | P a g e
entire family, I will ask Mr. Qina to contribute with the symbolic amount of
R 1545. This, for the purpose of making him contributing in the education of his
daughter. In addition to collaborate with the school and the family, I will be
personally dealing with the money, ensuring a total transparency.
Budget Qina family Monthly amount Per year
Income:
Family income R1 600 R 19 200
Total R1 600 R19 200
Contribution for school fee R 1545
Expenditures
School fee R96 520
Observation fee R825
Uniform + stationary R3 000
Psychologist assessment R1 200
Meal R1 500 (X10) R10 000
Transport R1 500 (x10) R10 000
Various costs (camp, activities) R1 500 (10) R10 000
Total R 4 500 R131 545
Amount required R130 000
Bank details
Rochat Ludovic
Recreation Road 24
7945 Muizenberg
FNB
Account N°: 62392627439
Branch N°: 250655
7 | P a g e
Return on investment
In providing a financial support to Sinalo Qina, your company will play a major role
in the life of this young girl allowing her to receive a suitable education that will
give her access to a decent job in the future.
More than a financial help, this is an opportunity to create a strong tie between
a young girl from the township and a company like yours. The nation of South
Africa is crossing a difficult time and is in dire need of empowering its young
people because they will be the windows of the nation of tomorrow.
Unfortunately, figures show that the most unprivileged category of people in
South Africa is among the black people. They need to be helped in order to unlock
their potential and education represents the best tools to do so.
In order to help you to see the impact that the Oakley House school is having on
Synalo, a page Facebook has be created. On this page, a follow up of the progress
of Sinalo will be regularly posted and will help the partners to stay updated. In
investing in Sinalo’s education, you will be an important part of her success.
Knowing Sinalo since several years, I know that she has an important potential
and huge room for growth. This school will reveal her potential and help her to
become the person she was created to be.
In addition, since she has started at Oakley, she is becoming quite famous among
her peers. Coming every day from a township to a school that is made up mostly
of students from a high-income background can be surprising. However, Sinalo is
showing every day through a serious commitment that she wants to do something
great for her life. In spite of her certain disability in terms of her learning, Sinalo
has developed numerous other abilities. She is able to socialise very easily and
adapt to any new environment. Everyone at Oakley has been positively surprise of
her capacity to integrate this new world, most often only reserved for white
people.
8 | P a g e
Appendices
Appendix A - Informal settlement of Capricorn
Appendix B - Vision of the new Capricorn
9 | P a g e
Appendix C – Sinalo’s psychological report
10 | P a g e
Appendix D – Grade 7 report
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Appendix E - Invoices justification
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13 | P a g e
Appendix F - Affidavit