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South Africa Link

Developing friendships, broadening horizons and providing opportunities to learn from each other

 

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Founded in August 2004, Link Community Development brought together Sandi Senior Secondary School and Berkhamsted School. The friendship between the two schools has grown from strength to strength.

There are three aspects to the friendship:

  • Communication by letters, cards, phone and e-mail.
  • Visits to and from England and South Africa
  • Special projects such as the Sandi Bursary

 

Sandi Senior Secondary School was established in 1995 and is a co-educational, rural school in the Ngqeleni District of the Eastern Cape. The nearest town is Mthatha.

There are about 870 learners aged 15-25 and 32 educators. The home language of the learners is IsiXhosa. Lessons are conducted in English. A small number of pupils rent accommodation near to the school as their homes are too far away for them to travel each day.

The school is a centre of excellence for Mathematics, Science and Technology.

Berkhamsted Preparatory School is linked with Ntsundwane Junior Secondary School. Ntsundwane Junior Secondary School was established in 1929. The school has about 880 learners from Grade R to Grade 9. There are 26 educators. It is about 700m from Sandi Senior Secondary School.

Berkhamsted Bursary – this enables a Sandi learner, who would not otherwise be able to do so, to complete a four year teaching degree at the Walter Sisulu University in Mthatha. Our first Bursary student Phelisa Khalazani graduated in 2013 and is now working at another school in the Eastern Cape. Our second student Godlo graduated early 2015 and at the time of writing is working at Sandi. We are currently supporting three other students Sivuile Fodo, Luvuyo Juliwe and Aphelele Nomandela at various stages in their studies.

Sandi 24 Club – parents and staff are invited to support this fundraising initiative for the Berkhamsted Bursary. The Club has the potential to generate a third of the annual fundraising target when it reaches its maximum membership of 300. As a member, parents sign up to donate £24 per year, or multiples of that, and in exchange, you will be kept up to date with news of the Sandi Link and be included in a monthly prize draw where you can win anywhere between £25 and £500.