What you need to know
If you would like to be part of the work of SchoolTrade you can do so by partnering us in one of our flagship projects during 2010. (See Projects). To view some of our past and existing partners go to Partners
SchoolTrade and the BEE Balanced Scorecard
Many of our South African partners get involved in SchoolTrade for BEE (Black Economic Empowerment) reasons. If this is your reason then we suggest the following:
- Work out your `target spend' on the BEE Balanced Scorecard. In other words, calculate the amount your business needs to spend in order to earn the desired Residual or Enterprise Development BEE points
- Quantify all the ways in which your business might already be contributing to the Balanced Scorecard e.g. you may have donated supplies for a community function
- Calculate your shortfall (target minus actual spend) and consider adopting as many schools as you need in order to meet the `target spend'.
Expat South Africans
During 2009 it was our privilege to partner a number of expat South Africans, living all over the world, to make a difference in needy schools in SA. With their contributions we were able to put shoes on feet,renovate a kitchen and supply much needed stationery. Ngiyabonga!
Win Win
It is important for us that all partners derive benefit from participating in SchoolTrade. Part of SchoolTrade's uniqueness is that it is a win-win partnership with needy schools on our network. The specific benefits are negotiated between SchoolTrade and sponsors and could include some of the following:
- Black Economic Empowerment (BEE) Points on the Social Development (25%) and Enterprise Development (25%) scales.
- Regular exposure in the local press and on this website
- The networking benefits of being part of a growing trading network where some of the other members may be interested in your product
- Limited access via the SchoolTrade office to all the schools on the network
- A pool of talented school leavers for recruiting and bursary purposes. The SchoolTrade office has the skills to help shortlist school leavers that match selection criteria.
- Want to provide year-end party for kids from a needy school?
- Would some of your staff be interested in teaching a lesson in a nearby needy school on subjects they are knowledgeable about?
- If the sponsor is from overseas, perhaps, e-mail communication with some of the children or staff from the school.
- For some of our overseas sponsors SchoolTrade is a way to make a tangible contribution towards educational development in this part of the world.
Non Financial Support
Investments need not be only financial in nature. If you have an hour to spare on a Thursday at 10am then join us for our TATS (Take an Adult to School) programme. For an example see http://www.schooltrade.co.za/News/index.asp?ID=817 The aim of the inerview is to enhance learners' limited understanding of the world of work.
Working with Well Resourced Schools
One of greatest educational resources in our region is the high number of independent and Ex Model C schools. For historical reasons these schools consistently perform way above the national average. One of our strategies is to `twin' these schools with local needy schools in ways that are sustainable and beneficial to both parties.
Examples may include visits by the Biology students of a needy school to the laboratory of the well recourced school or for teachers and learners at the well resourced school to assist with academic development at the needy school. A very successful recent example was our Language Making project with Grade 12 learners from The Wykeham Collegiate. See
http://www.schooltrade.co.za/News/index.asp?ID=816
The cost to the well-resourced school is R100 p/month and there are benefits to both parties. For well-resourced schools the advantages are marketing and access to needy schools without the normal logistical difficulties. One learner from an independent Girls School in Pietermaritzburg wrote to us recently saying that her involvement in one of the SchoolTrade projects had `dramatically impacted' on her life.
SchoolTrade is excited about the nation and relationship-building potential of these twinning exercises between schools.
If you are interested in participating in the work of SchoolTrade through one of the above ways then we look forward to hearing from you through the contact address provided on this page.