The David Rattray Foundation

The David Rattray Foundation was established in 2007 to further the cause of reconciliation between the peoples of South Africa by promoting discussion through historical and political lectures, nationally and internationally, and to raise funds through these and by any other appropriate means, for locally-based upliftment projects specifically in the areas of education and health in Northern KwaZulu-Natal.

The main focus of Foundation's work is to educate and care for children in rural Kwa-Zulu Natal. The Foundation's goal is to raise R20 million to strengthen education delivery in 14 existing rural schools.

The Foundation work is done by pro-bono volunteers with the result that overheads have been reduced to the minimum required for administration. The Foundation and its assets are managed in a Section 21 Company and Community Trust governed by a Board of Directors and Trustees

The Umzinyathi District, the area of focus for the Foundation, is one of South Africa's poorest and least developed areas where over 80% of the population lives below the poverty line. It suffers the highest incidence of HIV/AIDS infections leaving some 40% of children in this area without parents and a traditional family structure.

The population numbers about 500,000 of which 85% are unemployed, 93% live rurally and 70% are younger than 29. Most households number four to seven people attempting to survive on a social grant of R900 per month, over 80% of the population lives below the poverty line earning less than R19,200 per annum. Some 44% of the residents have no education and over half of the teachers do not have proper qualifications.

David Rattray Foundation
Patrons: HRH The Prince of Wales and Prince Mangosutho Buthelezi
Board Members: Chris Harvie, Ben Henderson, Mondli Makhanya,
Malcolm McCullogh, Cyril Ramaphosa, Andrew Rattray, Nicky Rattray,
Christine Read, Lorna Skhosana, Princess Tyler,
Rob Taylor (Chairman), Brian Xaba
Accountants: Colenbrander Inc
(The Foundation and its assets are managed in a Section 21
Company and governed by a Board of Directors)

PO RORKE'S DRIFT, KWAZULU NATAL, 3016
REPUBLIC OF SOUTH AFRICA
TELEPHONE: 00 27 (0) 34-6421843 or (0) 34-271 8051
FAX: 034-271 8053
Email: info@davidrattrayfoundation.org
Web: www.davidrattrayfoundation.org

The Foundation's Projects

Learning environment: To build classrooms, libraries, toilets, kitchens and specialised centres (e.g. computer and science laboratories) to accomodate learners.

Nutrition: To ensure that every child who attends school is adequately fed so they can concentrate on their studies.

Sanitation: To ensure that every child has access to a clean and working toilet and clean water while they are at school.

Teacher Development: To provide teachers with approved courses in curriculum planning, school management, leadership and community inclusion, as well as short courses in environment training.

Community Education and Care Model: To engage with and assit the local commumity to enable them to develop their schools as Community and Education centres.

Work Completed

Following an on-site inspection of the schools in the Rorke's Drift and Isandlwana area to gain a first-hand understanding of the community's needs, the Foundation began the a number of projects in September 2007 which have all been completed: the electrification of the Oscarsberg Primary School, the building of a library at Shiyane High School and the building of 3 classrooms at Mathutshana Primary School. These projects were evaluated by local community leaders and implemented under the supervision of at least one board member wherever possible using the local community builders, carpenters etc.

The Foundation has now launched the next phase of the schools’ enhancement programme. Working with a team of highly experienced educators it has undertaken a detailed and structured schools’ benchmarking audit to assess two main areas:

i. school resources, such as proper nutrition, adequate health facilities, toilets, access to fresh water, properly equipped classrooms, libraries, and computer-centres, a lack of which undermines the capacity to learn;

ii. teacher and learner commitment to a culture of learning in an orderly environment with discipline and routine where intellectual activity is valued and is underpinned by a sense of responsibility, trust and honesty.

It has set itself the objective that its work must result in improved learning outcomes and using solutions which must be owned and driven by the community to be sustainable.