This has been another difficult year for South Africa and the SADC region at large. President Jacob Zuma has presided over the country in a reckless, selfish and irresponsible manner. This resulted in South Africa’s credit rating having been downgraded to junk and generalised economic woes, including virtually non-existent growth and rampant youth unemployment.
Further north, ZANU-PF has removed the geriatric Robert Mugabe from power in Zimbabwe, after decades of misrule. In this worrisome context, it is crucial that we all prioritise the education of our children and youth. And so GADRA Education is more relevant today than ever, as it advocates for the strengthening of public education. The organisation would not exist were it not for the support of the Grahamstown community.
GADRA Education hereby acknowledges the generous financial support of the following local businesses, institutions and individuals: GBS Mutual Bank, Masikhulisane Trust, Settler City Motors, The Loseby Trust, The Tax House, Geoff and Margie Antrobus, Cathy Birkinshaw, Rosalie Breitenbach, John Ebden, Matheus Louw, Catriona Macleod, Christopher and Lesley McQuaid, Mike and Sue Marais, Sally Matthews, Carl and Fiona Meihuizen, Peta Myers, Ken Ngcoza, Les Roberts, Hilary Saunders, Yvonne Scheepers, Charlie Shackleton, Pat Terry, Angie Thomson, Joan Valentine and other members of the Valentine family, Peter and Sue Wentworth, Lise Westaway and all others who have given but prefer to remain anonymous.
Further, the organisation wishes to thank all volunteers from Rhodes University who gave so generously of their time and energy over the course of the year. This year, four of these volunteers Unathi Mabukane, Sanele Ngubo, Moroesi Ntsikeng and Phiwokuhle Tom, received Gold Awards for Excellence in Community Engagement from the university. GADRA Education is governed by a competent and committed Main Committee; all of its members serve voluntarily but deliver outstanding service to the organisation. Special thanks go to the Chairperson of the Committee Ken Ngcoza and its Treasurer Margie Keeton.
Finally, the organisation thanks all parents of the learners at the GADRA Matric School who have made sacrifices in order to pay tuition fees. We are hoping for a stronger than ever set of end-of-year examination results and look forward to an even brighter 2018.
Ashley Westaway, GADRA Education Manager
