Cape Town back yard arts festival.

Sifunda Kunye employee Sanga Mabulu attended a workshop in Cape Town 8 to 14 February 2022.

The concept of the backyard art/drama is an important concept as it showcased that talent can be showcased anytime at any location.

About theater in the backyard festival
Theater in the backyard mobile festival was held in Gugulethu, Cape Town. In this festival independent production were held in people’s backyard. This create an immersive artistic experience for audiences and performers. As Mhlanguli George (artistic Director) vision is to bring the art to the people. By staging productions in the township area to create accessibility.

Sanga quote was that she has gained valuable knowledge that will assist her very own drama club at St Matthews in Keiskammahoek.

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Our facilitators for our Sifunda Kunye community reading club is:

1. Nyala siyamthanda
2. Mbere Sinobom
3. James lupho

4.majola linovuyo

5. Lunguza Sakhanya
6. Gqokoma Emihle
7. Sauli Anam
8. Madasa phawu
9. Mali yonwaba
10. Rashalala linamandla
11. Klaas Lisakhanya
12. Tshoni Elam

We are looking forward to a productive, fun reading clubs in 2022.

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Mabhongo obtained distinctions in the following subjects:

Mathematics

Physical science

Life Sciences

Life orientation

Agricultural sciences

IsiXhosa

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We would like to congratulate our class of 2021 on a overall pass rate of            81.9 %, our breakdown of results are as follows:

Bachelors 62

Diploma 28

Certificates 24

total number of learners that wrote was 138, total of 114 passed. Let the class of 2022 make everyone proud and aim towards a 100% pass rate.

School opening : 19th of January 2021

A day full of excitement, nerves, being anxious and truly happy, the first day of school. It is where we as a school premises have new pupils who’ll be joining our school or the family as we usually say. We’re here to show the good and the bad days of high school. Even how we as a school premises play with books, how we cooperate and also how we truly are welcoming.

At the assembly, the most precious place where we pray and announce the most important things for the school. On the first day of school, the principal does the welcoming speech, most importantly welcoming the new ones which are the ones doing grade 8 telling them the pros and cons of high school.

A message from the Newsletter writer Natasha Mpondo to the new school pupils and the entire school : We are basically a school that finds ends to the beginning. Why? Let’s be specific : When we say we find our ends to the beginning, we say the success of this school never ends, we’re always hungry for success and being the well known. We are meant to be a historic school because we strive and always leave a mark. As a new person to the family have the characteristics of a St Matthew’s learner. We welcome you to this wonderful school premises. There’s still a lot to come.

Going to the pupils who have been here for years, let’s teach them how it is done. As I said we find our ends to the beginning, success never ends here. We’re meant to be like this, we are SAINTS. Kids you’ll see how it is done. If you have the VOICE to speak, the body to play, the intellect join one of the school clubs that will be presented to you in each class. Remember to find your end to the beginning, the success will never end. I’m saying it repeatedly because I know how we as a school strive. It’s time to play with the books, Saints. Welcome to St Matthew’s.

Wishing everyone all the best in academics.

St Matthew’s first day of school.

Authores : Mpondo Natasha

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13 December 2021

Sifunda Kunye project manager Zander Hampson together with Wesley and a small team installed a wi-fi camera security system at our Sifunda Kunye Literacy center this weekend.

The security system was fully funded by Sifunda Kunye Educational project.

This security will definitely increase security at our center.

Sifunda Kunye would like to thank everyone that worked hard to complete this project over this past weekend.

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29 November 2021

Sifunda Kunye Literacy project hosts annual writing camps for our partner schools but due to COVID we were unable to host our annual writing camp.

However, Sifunda Kunye launched an writing competition for our partner schools, together with our newsletter clubs and English faculty members at our schools our competition was successfully run.

Competition details was to write a short story themed “Where there is a will there is a way”

Top achievers from our partner schools were from St Matthews High School and Hendrik Kanise combined school.

Our 2021 writing competition winner was Natasha from St Matthews High School in Keiskammahoek.

Congratulations to all learners that wrote in to our competition, keep on exploring your creative side.

History of Sifunda Kunye Writing Camp:

Innovative Writing Camp Empowers Learners

Eighty learners from four area schools explored creativity, learning, and self-expression in an intense writing camp over the weekend.  The camp was sponsored and hosted by the Sifunda Kunye Educational Project, a local public benefit organization that has been active in the King Williams Town district since 2008.

Sifunda Kunye invites 10 to 15 learners from each of its partner schools in the King William’s Town District and Grahamstown district participate in these camps.  This past weekend, learners from St. Matthew’s, Xolani, Richard Varha, Toise and Hendrik Kanise combined Schools spent an intense 3 days (Friday-Sunday) focusing on a specific theme, completing personal works, and submitting them for peer critique.  This session’s theme was “Dreams are made of…” and learners were encouraged to express what dreams and ambitions  means to them in essays, poems, and group discussions and drama. Participants received guidance from a talented group of volunteer facilitators, student leaders, and the Sifunda Kunye staff.  .” Participants submit their work for inclusion into a published student journal at the end of the camp.  The journal is a unique opportunity for many to see their work in print.

Learners and teachers are continually impressed with the writing camps.  Participants relish the opportunity to engage in an in-depth weekend of imaginative learning.  They enjoy improving their language and writing skills in a fun and creative venue outside of the classroom.  Teacher’s enjoy witnessing the progress these young writers make over the course of a weekend.

The Sifunda Kunye Literacy Project’s writing camps have been successfully running since they first launched in August 2014.  Sifunda Kunye is a non-profit that relies on donations and grants to support its literacy and technology programs in Eastern Cape schools. 

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13 November 2021

We celebrated the completion of our annual facilitators program with a prize giving and a BBQ. The learners and faculty had loads of fun.

Sifunda Kunye is proud of all our hardworking facilitators that dedicated their time every Saturday at our literacy center.

Sifunda Kunye wants to thank Mr Kirben Rajopaul and Mr Dustin Hoffman from  Premier FMCG/Star bakery for recognizing our learners hard work.

Thank you for making the facilitators feel extra special by donating; lunch boxes, stationary, buffs, bread, caps and bags to all our facilitators. Sifunda Kunye, St Matthews High School and all our facilitators appreciate the donation received.

The mission of Sifunda Kunye Education Project is to have a positive impact on education and the individual lives of learners of all ages through the implementation of technology programs, literacy programs, and capital projects at deserving schools across South Africa.

We would like to thank our 2021 facilitators for positively impacting the lives of all ages through dedication and commitment to your role you play at our literacy center every weekend.

We wish all our facilitators, faculty, staff, donors and learners a Merry Christmas and a prosperous 2022.

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What is reading clubs?

It’s a relaxed environment that is more like home than school. Nobody is forced to come – it’s something you choose to do. It’s a place where people who love stories and books meet regularly to read, tell stories and talk about what they are reading with children of all ages. Sometimes they also do other fun activities related to stories and books.  often there’s time for club members to write too… because reading and writing go together. All of these things can happen in any language – in fact, most of the clubs tell and read stories in at least two languages!

Sifunda Kunye reading clubs:

Sifunda Kunye reading clubs run on a specific guided program. (guided line program to assist with planning for reading club is attached below)

Sifunda Kunye has integrated recording sheets to reading clubs that records information for use by facilitators, teachers and Sifunda Kunye program manager to assess progress of all aspects of the clubs.

We included:

Planning guidelines of program, (you can edit to suite your time line etc.)

Evaluation of student facilitators

This assist in gathering of information to assist faculty and Sifunda Kunye to sculpt and improve facilitators in their roles. Assistance for recognising outstanding facilitators and then ultimately reward though the title of facilitator of the year.

Attendance register

Comment on reading club learners. Shows improvements, outstanding excellent achievement by learners or even identification of learners showing difficulties of specific literacy areas.

Creative activities collected and send home to show parents learners progress and activities in reading clubs.

Recording measures will also identify possible challenges and improvements, positive impact of reading clubs.

The outcome should always be to improve and to ensure good quality impactful reading clubs.

Simamkele Sityo,- reading club facilitator at St Matthews High School.

The Sifunda Kunye Program helped me to improve my skills and abilities to learn how to read and socialize with children from different backgrounds;  help improve their lives through reading, writing books , kindness and creativity. Every Saturday is way to impact lives. Throughout Art, Reading, Writing poems, Playing games, Singing, Dancing, we impact lives and create skills that is lasting. Personally I feel Sifunda Kunye reading Club genuinely means building confidence , making friends and having a lot of fun in the process. I enjoy being around each and every child and showing them the amazing world of Reading and Writing and showcasing their skills and talents. I know now by reading you can see the world in a different perspective. I believe that every person was born with intelligence and talent so this Club gives us a lot of opportunities learn and improve the lives of our school and community.

Philasande kama – Reading club facilitator at St Matthews High School.

I am currently doing grade 11 learner at St Matthew’s high school . I am a reading club facilitator for sifunda kunye  community reading club.
Since I was chosen as a reading club facilitator, I have grown to love  reading more, I have learnt patience. I love working with the little readers. working with children has played a huge role in my confidence, personality and the way I see things . I am now enthusiastic in everything I do. The idea of working and being part of a planned reading club makes me excited to engage children with exciting games and techniques that improves communication skills and makes the learners excited and more engaging every week.

Being part of this reading club this year will have a lasting effect on the way I see thing in life—adapting to different situations to accommodate needs is important.  I will forever remember the small contribution I made in benefiting our community kids through literacy.

Lisakhanya Zono—Reading club facilitator St Matthews High School.

I am currently in grade 11 at St Matthew’s High School . I am a reading club facilitator for the Sifunda Kunye community reading club .

Since I was chosen as a reading club facilitator I have grown to love reading , grown to be patient , enthusiastic in everything that I do . Working with children has played a huge role in my confidence , personality and the way I see things .

The reading club will help me in  future career as a social worker.  Requirement of being  a good social worker one requires one to be a good communicator , to be empathetic and be patient.  The reading club is grooming me into the a more successful person so I can pursue my passion.

My long term goal is to start a  organization that deals directly with children, mothers and women from abusive backgrounds.

Kuhle Bongco—Reading club Facilitator St Matthews High School

I am a grade 11 learner who was chosen to be the facilitator at St Matthew’s high school. Being in the reading club is a very big deal for me,  I like to work with children and i enjoy to being around them. The reading club has helped me to improved my self-confidence, I used to be very shy, but now I am talkative and a go getter. Working with the children and providing a feel safe environment to improve their literacy and creative skills have been a blessing.

Sifunda Kunye reading club has help my chose my future  career.  I want to be a  foundation phase teacher and impact young lives I a positive way . Skills I have learned this year, I would be able to apply and encourage literacy in a creative way, the importance of introduction the love of reading at a early age is vital.

Likhona Nobathana— Reading club facilitator at St Matthews High School.

I am a grade 11 learner at the St.Matthews Anglican High school, I’m from Alice and I’m 17 years old. I was chosen as a Reading facilitator.

I’m an introvert, I prefer small groups than large groups. Working with young children made me confident in accepting my own personality. I enjoy to spend time with children younger than me.

In Sifunda Kunye Community Reading club family I’ve learned a lot.  Things I have learned this year, a child learns best by being involved in learning, i learned that one mind, can sharpen many minds, i learned to be excited and not be afraid of new things, to be curious and Express yourself sincerely. To have a good heart and love.
I love being around children they’re are honest and refreshing and i love teaching them new things. Children are not afraid to express how they feel.
Being  a facilitator helped  me to offer support, and not to judge people from different backgrounds and to give advice when needed.  I will always love, adore and support our younger generations.

Amkele Manundu—Reading club facilitator at St Matthews High School.

I am a grade11 learner who was also chosen to be the Reading club facilitator at St Matthew’s High School. I am 16 years old and an introvert, always liked to be around children.

In the Sifunda kunye Community Reading club I have learned how to communicate with children and to improve my reading skills aswell. I think, whoever came up with the idea of having a reading club at our school was a genius, because the club allows the children to come out of their comfort zone, that allows us as facilitators to be patient when around the children because children learn at their own pace. Children get  bored very easy, they are impatient, that is why I think the fun activities that are being done at the reading club are good for them so that they don’t focus on anything else expect reading in a interactive way.

I know this experience will help me a lot in my career one day, the  skills one acquired from the reading club are huge. Skills learned so far is how to communicate well with others, I learn how to conduct yourself in front of others and that is exactly the skills I need to succeed in my career. Everything in the reading club is what I had hoped for and I wouldn’t change a thing about it.

Siyolisiwe Kameni  — Reading club facilitator at St Matthews High School.

I am 16 years old doing grade 11 at St Matthew’s High school in Keiskammahoek.

I am a people’s person, I’m one of the Sifunda Kunye’s Facilitators and I am very grateful to be a facilitator, I love being around children,  I admire children’s endless energy, honesty, creativity and resilience. Children motivate me to be a better person and increase my own knowledge with all the curios questions they ask. I constantly find myself looking for answers in books and online. Children helped me gain confidence and grow an identity, knowing that my job is to help children achieve their potential , feel happier, safe  and a increased confidence in themselves, brings a huge smile to my face!

Kamva Ntlebi  – Reading club facilitator at St Matthews High School.

I am currently in grade 11 at St Mathews High School . I am 18 years. I love reading club as reading is one of my hobbies .
The Sifunda Kunye  Community Reading club I have learned that caring for one another and being helpful to someone else is very important.

I love being around children, being around children brings out my inner child.

I have learned that we must treat each other with love and respect, no matter from what background we come. I love that the club has increased my patience.

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Likho Ngemtu said ” My main focus about this school are three Rs which are reach, respect and relationship. Going to relationship, it is literally one of my first priorities will be to create opportunities for everyone to display their skills and talents. Secondly I would like to create an atmosphere of respect in classrooms. Thirdly let us strive to reach our full potential. ” Now from my knowledge quoting and listening attentively to what the school president was addressing to the pupils I believe that he is trying to brief us about the key aspects, actually the important things or the basics of what makes a school perfect and recognizable which is : discipline. Such powerful words by our president.

Sipumeze Mkuli , the Vice President of the school. She basically gave us the definition of her name and she ought to believe that her name carries leadership, indicates aspects of destiny and luck, evokes cheerfulness and shrewdness, also willing to reap and to soar. Such a scarce thing to do while presenting a speech was when she used a couple of Xhosa words which is good but also unique and  rare. She said this, I quote, ” Ukuze siphumelele, simele sikulungele ukuncama izinto ezithile ukuze siphumeze izigqibo zethu. ” Her main focus for the school was characteristics and qualities of being a student / candidate, she illustrated this by means of using a pencil as an example. Which a the five qualities of a pencil, she said. In those qualities she involved God, also a pencil always leaves a mark, a pencil that is not a wooden exterior but the graphic insight so meaning being humble and respecting the learners and teachers is what matters lastly she involved mistakes that a pencil can be erased meaning you can learn from your mistakes. It was indeed a powerful speech because she involved characteristics, challenges and life lessons which is what we face each and everyday.

Last but not least , Lisakhanya Gadu the Vice President who will be in charge when it comes to the school hostel, hostel dwellers and so on. Basically everything that has to do with the school hostel. Ms Gadu talked mainly about creating history in our school not just the school but making history in our country in the next years as black children. I quote, ” My main focus is to change St Matthew’s High school into the best vision of itself which education, sports and discipline, actually changing many narratives. Firstly the narrative of thinking that we as black children are inadequate. Secondly thinking that our success is limited and knowing change is indeed a difficult transition. As an individual I believe we can push and actualize what we want to achieve as pupils and also as a school premises by never giving up. At the end of the day it’s all about believing and making decisions now in that, that is what I believe as Vice President ” By observing and listening to her speech I take a very tenacious and fearless young lady. That was unique and enticing speech.

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We would like to thank Sanga from Sifunda Kunye and Sifunda Kunye drama learners for making this event spectacular.

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