Mandela’s Legacy
Mandela Day holds special significance for South Africa, yet his legacy inspires not only South Africans but people worldwide.
To honour this legacy, we’ve organised several Mandela Day projects, including:
- An outing to the Bothongo Rhino & Lion Nature Reserve for some of our Foundation Phase learners.
- The installation of educational murals on important subjects like science.
- Volunteers also dedicated their 67 minutes to gardening, cleaning, and one-on-one reading sessions with our learners.
Educate A Child
In South Africa, no education is truly free; all parents are required to pay some form of school fee. By donating £15 a month, you can fund a bursary for a selected pupil at Sparrow Schools. These bursaries assist students who cannot afford the basic school fee and lack support from family, the government, or other charities.
In return, you will receive an annual update on the child you sponsor, allowing you to follow their progress throughout their education. For more information about bursaries, please visit our website at sparrowschools.org.uk or contact Harry Hughes-Davies at harryhughesdavies@gmail.com.
Follow the links to find out more:
https://schoolsfundraising.sparrowschools.org.uk/work-of-sparrow-schools/donate/
https://sparrowschools.co.za/how-you-can-help/donations/educate-a-child/
Robotics and Coding
“Coding is today’s language of creativity. All our children deserve a chance to become creators instead consumers of computer science” – Maria Klawe
At Sparrow Schools, we’ve embraced this vision by integrating Robotics and Coding into our curriculum, equipping our learners for the future.
In a technology-driven world, our students need to be well-prepared. Our educators employ innovative and engaging methods to teach these essential skills.
One example is using Legos to foster critical thinking and pattern recognition.
A Visit from Caldicott
Sparrow Schools is committed to delivering quality education to disadvantaged children and those facing learning barriers. Among our supporters in the UK is Caldicott School in Slough.
We recently had the pleasure of hosting Jo Duncan from Caldicott School. During her visit, she was introduced to both of our schools and had the opportunity to experience firsthand the impactful work that Sparrow Schools is doing. It was a wonderful chance to connect and exchange insights.
Thank you, Jo, for your visit. It was a pleasure to have you, and we hope you enjoyed your time with us.
Jo Duncan’s visit to Sparrow Schools, SA
In August, I had the incredible chance to visit Sparrow Schools in Johannesburg, South Africa—a trip that truly left a mark on my heart. Over the past few years, Caldicott has developed a strong bond with Sparrow through our charitable efforts, supporting fantastic programmes like Junior Jive, CatrobatzKidz, and Phono-Graphix. This visit allowed me to see these life-changing initiatives in action and spend time with the amazing team across Sparrow’s three educational establishments. Sparrow Schools, founded by the visionary Jackie Gallagher in 1990, has become a beacon of hope for many in Johannesburg. Comprising two schools and a Further Education and Training (FET) college, Sparrow serves children who have faced some of life’s toughest challenges—abuse, exploitation, deprivation, and homelessness. Some of these children have never known parental love, growing up in townships where they’ve had to fend for themselves from a very young age. Many also grapple with serious learning difficulties, often made worse by years of neglect.
In a city where unemployment and poverty are sadly all too common, Sparrow’s educational approach stands out. The schools focus on equipping learners with practical skills, giving them a real shot at finding work and building better lives. The pathway from the Foundation School to the Combined School and the FET College is thoughtfully designed to develop both skills and character, giving students the best possible start for a successful future.
During my time at the Foundation School, I had the pleasure of meeting Jenny Taylor, the energetic founder of Read for Africa, who introduced the Phono-Graphix Reading method at Sparrow. This innovative way of teaching reading and spelling has been shown in recent studies to have an impressive 98% effectiveness in helping children, including those with learning disabilities, reach grade-level proficiency. In addition to the core teaching staff, a group of university students is placed with Sparrow to work with learners one-on-one or in small groups as part of the Phono-Graphix programme, and it was fantastic to see everyone so engaged and the progression from Foundation to Combined School. I also joined a lively CatrobatzKidz lesson, where teacher Josh expertly guided students through movement patterns that support their physical, emotional, and social development. The energy in the room was contagious, and it was such a joy to see the students so involved. One of the highlights of my visit was jumping into a Junior Jive lesson. This programme, designed to boost fine motor skills and perceptual abilities, had students moving to the music with such infectious enthusiasm—I couldn’t resist joining in! I also spent time with Creative Arts teacher Buhle Sithole, a former Drama Therapist, whose connection with her students was truly inspiring. As a drama teacher myself, we swapped ideas, and I eagerly jotted down new warm-up games to bring back to Caldicott.
At the Combined School, I was moved by the students’ powerful rendition of ‘Nkosi Sikelel’ iAfrika’ during assembly and was impressed to see so many awards presented to participants of their Boxing programme (led by South African lightweight champion, Paul Kamanga), which has done wonders for students’ hand-eye coordination, stamina, endurance, and confidence. Later, I had the privilege of leading a drama lesson myself, and I was blown away by the students’ enthusiasm and willingness to dive in. To end my day there, I participated in a Marimba lesson. After hitting a few bum notes, I managed to get the hang of it!
A particularly touching moment came during a break when I met a young learner who was nearing the end of her time at the Combined School. My guide, Muso Thomo (Operations Manager and teacher), shared that this bright student, excelling both academically and in sports despite a challenging background, was facing an uncertain future due to financial constraints. It was a stark reminder of the hurdles many of these students’ face, despite their incredible potential. The principals of the Foundation School, Alison Button, and the Combined School, Leona Krishna, spent time with me discussing their students, approaches, and values—conversations that left me deeply impressed by their dedication. Thank you also to Sonya Naidoo for a wonderful chat. Sonya is based at the Foundation School where she skilfully uses her experience as a former social worker to support both students and their parents.
The FET College, a social enterprise, offers fully funded, accredited programmes to disadvantaged youth. Students receive both classroom instruction and on-the-job training, with the college working closely
with industries to address skill shortages. During my visit, the hospitality students prepared a delightful banquet, showing off their talents and the programme’s impact—it was delicious! I also toured the welding and electrical workshops, witnessing the practical skills students are gaining. The staff’s compassion was clear when they rallied to support a colleague who had tragically lost her home in a fire that broke out in the informal township in which she lives and resulted in a neighbour losing their life— an incident that underscored the harsh realities faced.
I also had the pleasure of meeting Sparrow Foundation’s new marketing team and bouncing around ideas on how to leverage social media to further their mission. Throughout my visit, I was continually inspired by the staff’s dedication, moved by the stories shared, and humbled by their generosity.
My journey was made even richer by a visit to Mandela’s house in Soweto (thank you to Joy and her team) and Constitution Hill, deepening my understanding of South Africa’s complex history and enduring spirit. I owe a big, heartfelt thank you to Jackie Gallagher, George Marsh, Renata Noble, and Melanie Malema, who have also visited us at Caldicott, for their warm hospitality and for showing me the true spirit of Sparrow. The connection between Caldicott and Sparrow is one of mutual enrichment, and I’m excited about what the future holds for our partnership. A special shout-out to the Caldicott Community and the parents who run our Second-Hand Uniform Shop for their unwavering support of our work with Sparrow.
Jo Duncan
A New Beginning as Jackie Gallagher Retires
After 35 years of dedicated service, Jackie Gallagher has announced her retirement and stepped down as the General Manager of Sparrow School Educational Trust, effective 31 August 2024. She founded the organisation as a Saturday school with just four learners. Under her leadership, it grew into a successful educational institution in South Africa, providing quality specialised education to tens of thousands of students through its Foundation School, Combined Technical Skills School, and FET College which offers fully funded education to disadvantaged youth.
“Leading this remarkable organisation has been an amazing journey, filled with countless memories, challenges, and triumphs. It has been more than just work for me—it’s been my life’s passion. I am grateful for every moment spent building something that has made a positive impact in the world”; said Gallagher.
Gallagher also announced that the Board of Trustees has appointed Melanie Malema to succeed her as General Manager, effective 01 September 2024, as part of a planned leadership succession.
“As I step back, I do so with full confidence that the organisation is in capable hands,” Gallagher added.
IN CONCLUSION
Before you go….
Exciting news! Sparrow has been featured in the latest issue of Tudor Hall’s alumni magazine, Rose Magazine.
A big thank you to Tudor Hall for the spotlight! Stay tuned for more in our upcoming issue.