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 “It was the best of times, it was the worst of times, it was the age of wisdom, it was the age of foolishness, it was the epoch of belief, it was the epoch of incredulity, …” Charles Dickens 
 
At times like these, when the world is in crisis, we will see the best and the worst of people.  In this time of panic, people will hoard toilet paper and hand sanitiser but watch this space... the majority of people will also come together and rally around community and that is the beauty of the human race.

With the worldwide shut down due to the Covid-19 virus we have postponed all events for the foreseeable future.

We have suspended our sport and academic activities in line with the shut-down of schools, however, we feel we cannot shut down the feeding programme when the community is at its most vulnerable and will continue to provide food as long as it is safe to do so.  We could not go on without mentioning our partners who have jumped into action to ensure our children get fed.  First and foremost, the Shoprite group have offered access to their Soup Truck as part of their #ActForChange initiative  and this will ensure that each child receives soup and bread each day - they have gone over and above and assisted with additional unforeseen expenses. Thank you Shoprite Holdings - you certainly do ACT FOR CHANGE.   Leon Glanvill, Housemaster of School House at Bishops Diocesan College has opened their kitchen so that we can safely store the food.  The City of Cape Town will be working with our staff to ensure that  this is rolled out  responsibly with social distancing enforced -  the health and safety of our children and staff is our priority.   

To date, 2020 has thrown challenges the world over, but amidst this there are many good news stories and these too must be shared. 

VUSA had a great start to 2020. Attendance records increased to over 200 learners a day and we have employed three additional temporary coaches to support our existing team.

The academic support programme resumed in January and in addition to this, we have also implemented a maths clipboard programme whereby each child completes a daily worksheet with a focus on tables and bonds.  This can be tedious but the repetition will create a solid maths foundation.  To keep learners engaged, additional problem solving sums are included (thank you Gareth Jordan for preparing these) which encourages dialogue and results in lateral thinking. 
 
In partnership with Bishops Prep, we have introduced a peer learning programme which sees Bishops Prep learners going to Langa and sharing what they've learned. Evidence suggests that peer learning creates greater confidence and independence in learning, and improved grades for both peer teachers and their students. Students feel more comfortable and open when interacting with a peer and direct interaction between children from different socio-economic groups, teaches children a greater understanding of each other.

Thanks to Western Provence Rugby, the Ikey Tigers and O'Brien Recruitment, we have been fortunate to take children to watch live matches at UCT and Newlands respectively - this is how passion is ignited.

Thank you to Richard Horton and Orcinus Properties for sponsoring the the 2020 VUSA kit.  These uniforms provide our children with a sense of belonging.  They all attend different schools and the uniform bonds them as a team.  Thank you.

Unfortunately due to the Covid-19 shutdown, the children have missed a few great opportunities - the KES festival in Joburg and matches against international touring sides to name a few, however, VUSA teams participated in their first tournament on Saturday, 14 March, at the Klein Boishaai Optimum Rugby Day at Paarl Boys Primary School.  Head of Paarl Boys Sports, Elmo Wolfaardt said the following, "Ek dink die blootstelling wat die Vusa seuns kry is brilliant. Hulle is beslis weer welkom vir volgende jaar."  ("I think the exposure the Vusa boys get is brilliant. They are definitely welcome again next year.").

We are incredibly grateful to all the Bishops families who have supported VUSA and to those who are assisting with the makeover of Nomonde Creche.  (thank you for your donations and support Larissa Hollis, the Campbell family, the Skillcorn Family, the Estcourte Family and the Berman Family). VUSA Academy supports four ECD centres in Langa with a physical literacy and  numeracy  development programme. Whilst this facility provides a safe space for over 100 children each day, it is a primarily a concrete playground.  We are looking forward to creating a beautiful space and garden for the children and the surrounding community.

Thank you to all our partners, donors, sponsors, Trustees and volunteers (Steve and Shelley Estcourt, Belinda Gordon, Chantel van den Heever, Cathy Howard, Cara Cato, the Steve Bailey, and all the teams and committees who spend hours in the background) to make sure our children have access to a better tomorrow.  No matter what life throws at us, at least in South Africa we can count on Ubuntu  - Take care of yourselves and your families.

Kind regards
Brendan, Mak & Nikki
IN THE MEDIA
ON THE FIELD -  KLEIN BOISHAAI OPTIMUM RUGBY DAY 
NOMONDE CRECHE MAKEOVER - READY FOR COLOUR
PEER LEARNING - INSPIRING INDIVIDUALS
IN THE CLASSROOM
Learning is fun with Siyakhula Langa and the VUSA coaches!
AWAKENING OPPORTUNITIES
"There are no seven wonders of the world in the eyes of a child. There are seven million." - Walt Streightiff

Thank you Lorna O'Brien and Ikey Tigers for providing funding so that we could  transport 180 children to outings. Access to matches where they can support their mentors and role models is a surefire way to motivate and inspire children.  

Thank you to Western Provence Rugby for providing tickets for the children - sitting in the Newlands Stadium is a memory that will stay with children for a life-time.  

Thank you Shoprite for always ensuring that our children have a meal. 

This recreational programme is as important in the development of children as academic support and sports.  Article 31 of the UN Convention on the Rights of a Child states “That every child has the right to rest and leisure, to engage in play and recreational activities appropriate to the age of the child and to participate freely in cultural life and the arts." 

Thank you to all our partners who make these outings possible.  
OUTINGS
HARFIELD HARRIERS - MILKWOOD RUN
On the 1st March 2020, the Harfield Harriers Running Club in Claremont hosted the ABAX Investments Milkwood run in Kommetije.  They invited 10 children from the VUSA academy to attend.  They thought of all the logistics;  transport, running shoes and a t-shirt for each child.  It was a new experience, in a new part of Cape Town that our children had never before had access to and for us that is the name of the game - creating opportunities for youth is what will engage and inspire - with new opportunities come new beginnings.  Thank you Harfield Harriers for including our children in this wonderful day. 
POP UP SHOP
Thank you so much to Jen Thunstrom and Tanyana Robb-Quinlan for sourcing clothing from the Prep second hand shop.  Thank you also to Gail Williams from Bergvliet Primary School for the contribution of shoes, shorts and fleeces. We also wish to thank Quentin and Maureen Rookledge for their generous donation of books for the creche programme. 
TOGETHER FOR GREATER IMPACT
CALL TO ACTION
In a time where elbow greetings replace a hand shake, VUSA is keeping the 'high five' alive.  Through the VUSA High Five campaign you can still High Five with none of the risk.

Contributions of R50, R500 or R5000 will benefit all our programmes which provide children from Langa with opportunities not ordinarily accessible to them.  Bishops Diocesan College cover the operational expenses and thus contributions benefit the programmes directly.  

Raise your hand and give a child a High Five. Uplift and encourage them through a donation to  the VUSA Academy. 
See THIS video to see how your funds can have an impact. 
MAKE A DONATION
UPCOMING EVENTS
 
With the worldwide shut down due to the Covid-19 virus we have postponed all events for the foreseeable future.

 
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Copyright © *|2019|* *|VUSA Rugby & Learning Academy|*, All rights reserved.


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