News

“If we ignore this population of vulnerable children and youth, especially the girls and young women, we are failing them.” These were the stark words of MIET AFRICA’s Director of South African Programmes and Advocacy, Dawn Jones, during a SABC News Late Edition interview. Her comments come in response to the recent announcement of a 90-day suspension of all US foreign assistance – a decision she warns will have devastating consequences.

“It doesn’t help that it’s just a pause – it’s 89 days too long,” Jones stated, emphasizing that the initial impact of the freeze would hit the world’s most vulnerable populations hardest.
According to The Guardian, UN agencies have already begun scaling back global aid operations, with immediate cuts to humanitarian assistance across multiple regions. The ripple effect is being felt worldwide.
“Ultimately, we cannot stop what we’re doing,” Jones stressed. “Civil society and the private sector must step up in solidarity to ensure this sector continues its essential work.”
Watch the full interview:

https://youtu.be/wwPZFArDZmg?feature=shared

Having shown great promise academically, Zabeta Ngoma was confronted by a challenge that threatened her scholastic journey. Her story serves as a testament to the power of seeking help, supportive communities and of the human capacity for growth. Zabeta now inspires others by sharing her experiences and encouraging them to seek help when needed. Read about Zabeta’s story and more in FutureLife-Now! News, out now! Also available in French and Portuguese.

Originally piloted in four Member States (Lesotho, Malawi, Zambia and Zimbabwe), FutureLife-Now! was launched in South Africa in 2023. Through it, learners in the FutureLife-Now! schools in South Africa have been exposed to a variety of the programme’s themes, including sexual and reproductive health and rights and climate change awareness and its effects.

To read more, click here. The newsletter is also available in French and Portuguese.

The 2024 national CSTL Research Symposium hosted by the South African Department of Basic Education (DBE), concluded this week with a resounding reaffirmation of partner commitment to ensuring holistic support and care for every learner and educator.

The 2nd Symposium was held on 3 and 4 September 2024 at Birchwood Hotel and OR Tambo Conference Centre in Johannesburg, Gauteng, under the theme, “A Response to Ending Learning Poverty”. Over 200 participants attended.

MIET AFRICA, as a key CSTL partner, joined the DBE, the National Education Collaboration Trust (NECT), UNICEF and UNESCO for the two-day Symposium.

MIET AFRICA Trustee and former Chairperson of the Board, Prof John D Volmink, presented a keynote address where he outlined the key milestones of the CSTL journey, from its early roots as a small project piloted by MIET AFRICA in three provinces in South Africa,

The use of “peer educators” to implement FutureLife-Now! is an important feature of the programme in Zimbabwe, Phase 2 of which is now full steam ahead. To ensure that they are fully equipped to maximize programme impact, the country team organized two dynamic training sessions for nearly 100 educators from 37 schools. Read about this, and more in FutureLife-Now! News, out now. Also available in Portuguese and French.

In collaboration with the Department of Basic Education and UNICEF South Africa, MIET AFRICA developed an animated video series on menstrual health and hygiene.  The engaging series were designed specifically for young people, to be used in classrooms and to be shared widely to create more awareness and knowledge about menstrual health. By providing clear and accessible information, we aim to empower young girls and boys, break down myths and taboos, and foster a supportive environment where everyone can discuss and understand the importance of menstrual health.

Episode 1: Menstruation the Basics

Join Lesedi, our main character as she, along with her friends, family, teachers and healthcare workers share information on topical themes to promote PERIOD POWER, spread positivity and ensure that every learner feels informed and confident about this natural and important aspect of life.

MIET AFRICA, supported by the Sanlam Foundation, implemented a maths support programme in 15 primary and eight secondary schools from 2017 to 2022 in KwaZulu-Natal. A set of 12 videos covering key topics on number concept development (number sense) at Grade 4 level was developed as one of the outputs of the support programme. The videos can be used by teachers during lessons, by learners (individual and in groups) at home or in school to cover learning gaps, and by caregivers (parents) in supporting their children at home. The videos are available in English and isiZulu.

View the videos now on MIET AFRICA’s YouTube Channel

Poor number concept development in primary school learners eventually leads to poor performance in maths in the higher grades. In the 2019 “Trends in International Mathematics and Science Study” (TIMSS) Grade 4/5 study, South Africa was one of the five lowest performing countries,