charity auction 1 1 We know that visitors to our country are blown Part of being South African is that we make a away by the Cape, the Winelands, the Garden contribution in our own way to improving the Route, our wilderness areas and all the other lot of those less fortunate than us. That is why natural beauty of South Africa and that they are we founded ArtAngels where the proceeds of charmed by the warmth, humour and zest for life this event go via our family foundation, the Click of our people. But we South Africans have so Foundation, directly to Ikamva Labantu and much more that we have created that we can be INSPIREtoREAD who will be rolling out the early proud of and celebrate. That is why at Ellerman childhood literacy program, Reading Eggs, to House we want our guests to experience the underprivileged children in the Western Cape. best of what we South Africans can offer. We are humbled by the generosity of the artists So we ripped out the alien plants and now have who have donated outstanding works for auction an indigenous garden. We only serve South and the many that donated prizes, goods and African wine and cuisine and our stunning staff services. Thank you to those that gave of their provide our guests with the warmest of “egte time in organising this event. Thanks also to all Suid Afrikaanse gasvryheid”. We also have an the ArtAngels guests whom it is our pleasure exclusively South African art collection that to host. I trust that through your generosity you is representative of our best artists past and will share in the joy, excitement and pride of present. Unfortunately because we are a private being part of this unpredictable but exhilarating hotel we only share the pleasure of viewing our country where we can all make a difference in collection with our guests. So this is a wonderful forging a brighter future for all South Africans. opportunity to allow our local South Africans friends to view the art and experience Ellerman House’s hospitality. We recognise that we are privileged to enjoy the best of South Africa but that the vast majority of South Africans are not as fortunate as we are. 2 3 The Click Foundation is an educational skunkworks set up as a response to the education crisis in South Africa. Our aim is to innovate and test non-conventional, out of the box, technology based education solutions that have potential to scale and meaningfully impact education for individuals. In January 2012, the Click Foundation began implementing a foundation phase English literacy programme called Reading Eggs. Reading Eggs is an online, phonetics based programme that uses reading games, activities, songs, animations and rewards to create a fun and motivational learning experience that supports the initial acquisition of literacy skills. Reading The United Nations states that literacy is a fundamental human right and the foundation for lifelong learning. It is fully Eggs provides visual and auditory instruction that allows for individualised (i.e. 1 to 1 instruction) and self paced learning, essential to social and human development in its ability to transform lives. For individuals, families, and societies alike, it is while requiring only basic facilitation. an instrument of empowerment to improve one’s health, one’s income, and one’s relationship with the world. Overview of Reading Eggs and the follow-on programme, Reading Eggspress: South-Africa ranked last out of 39 participating countries in the Progress in International Reading and Literacy Study (“PIRLS”) 2006 International Report with regards to literacy levels and 12th out of 15 participating countries in the Southern and Eastern Africa Consortium for Monitoring Educational Quality (“SACMEQ”) III Project Results (2010). Furthermore, in February 2011, the Department of Basic Education conducted the Annual National Assessments (“ANA”) in literacy/language. The results indicate that over 65% of children in grades 4 to 6 are not appropriately proficient in literacy and language. % of grade 4 / 5 students reaching PIRLS international Average performance in ANA literacy tests: benchmarks of reading achievement – 2006 assessment: Median International 59% 94% 76% South Africa 51% 41% Through the Reading Eggs intervention, the Click Foundation aims to 22% 41% 13% partner with Early Childhood Development (“ECD”) centres, schools 6% and after-school programmes to provide primary and/or supplementary 32% 32% support for the acquisition of fundamental English literacy skills. Our 28% Low Benchmark Intermediate High Benchmark main target groups are young children commencing on their reading Benchmark journey and older children who can use the programme to “back-fill” Basic reading skills More sophisticated & strategies. Moderate reading reading strategies. the gaps in their literacy education, with the aim of following these Recognise and proficiency. Retrieve siginifcant children through their learning journey. As a secondary target group, reproduce explicitly Understand literary details, retrieve facilitators, teachers, parents and carers are also given access to the stated facts. Make plot of a story. Make information and programme if possible. simple inferences. some inferences provide text- At Sun Sparrows in Pretoria teachers have moved and connections based support for sleep time to the computer room to enable them between facts in inferences. text. to work through Reading Eggs. Grade THE INABILITY OF LEARNERS TO READ FUNCTIONALLY IS A BARRIER TO EFFECTIVE LEARNING AT ALL LEVELS. 4 5 “Thank you. I was having a lot of fun to play and I learnt “Children are really enjoying this programme. They are with the words. I heard what it was saying and I pressed showing lot of progress and we are looking forward to In addition to providing access to the online programme, the Click Foundation offers support to the buttons on to the right words. And I was very clever.” more experiences. It has installed in them confidence ensure the successful implementation of the intervention through regular training of facilitators, Grade 3 student, Chakaza Primary, Mpumalanga to read. They are taking books and grouping others to teachers and project managers, advising on the structuring and management of the programme and “read” a story to them. I believe that soon their listening infrastructure and consistent guidance and mentorship for partners. The Click Foundation is also “The children love working on the computers and are skills will be improved, I have never seen them so quiet responsible for the monitoring and evaluation of the Reading Eggs intervention in all environments. taking charge of their own learning. It is also helping with and concentrating like when they are in there! It’s as if they discipline.” are on their own, just a child and a computer, talking to it To date, the Click Foundation is partnering with 11 organisations, implementing in 13 environments, Founder, INSPIREDtoREAD, Western Cape – singing or dancing or reading aloud with it!” in 4 provinces and reaching approximately 800 children. Principal, Inkululeko Nursery School, Pretoria “He always point out letters at shops/roads/at home Number of students by province: Number of students by grade: of words that he recognises. Sometimes when I buy “ I am busy assessing the Gr. R’s on their numeracy and something he first tries to point at letters that he literacy competency and I am so impressed by the way recognises on the package.” they can identify the following sounds…I am convinced Parent, Sunsparrows Nursery School RE has contributed to their competency. It will benefit (After being asked whether they could see an them so much when they enter Gr. 1!” Gauteng Grade R improvement in their child’s literacy post RE) Teacher, Sun Sparrows, Pretoria Western Cape Grade 1-7 Grade 8-12 KZN Mpumalanga Given the success of the pilots and the demand of our implementation partners, the funds raised through the Ellerman House ArtAngels initiative will be used by our partners to expand the reach of Reading Eggs in the current environments and other environments in which they operate. The Ellerman House ArtAngels event in Cape Town will specifically raise funds for 2 of our Western Cape implementation Number of students by environment type: Number of students by demographic: partners namely Ikamva Labantu (65%) and INSPIREtoREAD (35%) through the Greater Stellenbosch Development Trust Ikhaya Trust Centre and Unmiquphiso Primary School. ECD Centre Urban After School Township School Rural 6 7 8 9 Ikamva Labantu is a South African non-governmental, non-profit organisation assisting and empowering vulnerable families and communities in township areas in and around Cape Town. The organisation traces its roots back to the 1960s and the apartheid era when Helen Lieberman and other community activists started working on addressing the severe lack of services and support for black Central Rainbow ECD ECD Full communities. Today, Ikamva Labantu touches the lives of more than 25,000 people every day including over 1,000 children in 300 homes; TOTAL more than 12,000 pre-school children in 200 under-developed day care centres; and about 540 senior citizens in 17 seniors clubs. 2013 2013 2013 Capacity The organisation’s programmes are focused on three main areas – community health; community learning and development; and New computers / tablets 15 25 25 40 community resources. These programmes are interlinked to ensure that community leaders, teachers, parents, caregivers and families are Children 150 50 125 200 empowered to find and implement solutions, with Ikamva’s resources and guidance where necessary and thus enabling them to achieve independent and fulfilled lives, for themselves, and for those they help and care for. Equipment: Computers / Tablets 82,500 137,500 137,500 220,000 Equipment: Mice / Headphones / locks 5,250 8,750 8,750 14,000 Furniture: Tables/ Counters / chairs 10,000 10,000 10,000 20,000 The Ikamva Labantu Rainbow Centre in Gugulethu has participated in the Reading Eggs pilot since March 2012.