Isiphiwo Primary School

ABOUT 

Isiphiwo Primary School has 1,300 students and is situated in Khayelitsha Township, the poorest and most densely populated suburb of Cape Town.  Large numbers of children are being raised by grandparents in dire poverty and small houses which have no electricity or running water.  There is little educational guidance from parents or grandparents who have had no opportunity or finances to ever go to school.  Often children come to school to receive their only meal of the day and uniforms are torn or tattered. 

Isiphiwo is graded by the South African Government as one of the poorest schools by their grading system.  However, through the assistance of an excellent headmaster and staff as well as several South African Rotary Clubs, Pathways-Africa and Elizabeth Danckwerts, a South African living in Cape Town who works with the school on a humanitarian mission the school is progressing.   

Literacy is the main issue in the school and the testing scores do demonstrate improvement each year.  Pathways-Africa has helped to build a library and purchase books in English and the local dialect.   The purchase of computers has bolstered the allotted time for each student to use the computers from 30 minutes each week to 90 minutes per student.  Recently Pathways-Africa also purchased five 500 liter water tanks that were installed at the school.

Isiphiwo School is a stimulating learning environment appreciated by students who realize the value of an education. It is clean and orderly, with learning displays posted throughout the building. Volunteer parents come to school each day to cook a healthy lunch for all of the students using vegetables from the school garden.

HOW CAN YOU HELP?

- Sponsor a child ($100 will cover the cost of fees, one required uniform, supplies and incidentals for a year.)
- Get information about upcoming Safari Mission trips and visit the Isiphiwo School.