Micah 6- Justice through education

"He has shown you, O man, what is good;
And what does the LORD require of you?
But to do justly,
To love mercy,
And to walk humbly with your God?"

Micah 6:8

The girls at the opening of the new library with my mom who helps with extra lessons and making lunches.

This is a non-profit organisation that was started by Gabrielle Wills. I have been involved with the girls when they have come to our house on a Saturday and we help them with their projects and if they are having any problems at school. My relationships with these girls have grown and I love seeing the growth in their lives and what a difference this intervention has made in their lives. Two of the girls that used to attend the Sparks Secondary School with the others are now going to Inanda Seminary because of the intervention, this has made their future ALOT brighter. Please read on about Micah6 and I urge you to get involved because it will definitely change a life.

This information has been taken from: micahsix.blogspot.com

The Vision

It is an injustice that being poor in South African generally means getting a sub-standard education. It is an injustice that this will affect a child's life forever as poor education restricts their life trajectory and access to opportunities. For this reason Micah6 was initiated in September 2008 and officially registered as a Non-Profit Organisation in June 2010. We are about justice through education. 

The current vision of Micah6 is to provide vulnerable girls with the opportunity to maximise their potential and in turn help others to do the same. The key mission to achieve this is investing into the lives of girls in South Africa, by 

1. Connecting sponsors to an individual life to provide the opportunity to attend a better school. 
2. Intervening weekly in the life of each child through one on one conversations at our Tuesday English conversation lessons.  
3. Acting as an advocate for schooling improvements at Sparks Estate Secondary to which most of our sponsored learners attend. 

Critical to our existence is finding sponsors to provide the means for vulnerable girls to attend high school or tertiary institutions. We believe that the key to achieving this goal is to focus our resources and time into fewer candidates rather than many. We aim to spread our energy and resources thickly, and create transformative change in the lives of our candidates: a change that will resonate for years to come. At Micah6 we are committed to facilitating each girl’s education to the finish; guiding their development over the long term and encouraging them in turn, to impact and change their communities. 

The story behind Micah6

In 2006, a group of ten girls, aged ten to eleven, were identified by teachers at Cato Crest Primary School as needing additional social care. The girls were displaying abnormal behavioral patterns, the majority of which resulting from the death a parent due to HIV/AIDS. These ten girls were given intensive psychosocial grief counseling bySt Thomas Anglican Church and social work studnts from the University of KwaZulu-Natal. At the end of the counseling course, I, together with a colleague Sarah Pudifin, were approached by St Thomas’ to give the girls some basic music skills. The purpose of the music lessons was two-fold. First, it allowed the group to remain intact facilitating further emotional support. Second, it exposed the group to new cultural experiences. The fledgling recorder ensemble proved a huge success, and the music lessons soon transformed into a varied arts and crafts program that was extended not only to the original members, but also their friends…and then their friends.

Cato Crest Primary - Extra-mural activities... the beginning

A Pivotal point 

Towards the end of 2008, some of the girls in the extra-mural program had reached the end of their primary education, and it became apparent that without additional support, their prospects for a sound high school education were bleak. It was later brought to our attention, that by the third quarter of the school year, parents and guardians of the girls had not even registered them to attend a high school! Our concern was growing. The poor standard of education offered in the informal settlement coupled with the lack of mentorship at home, meant that for sustainable change, outside intervention was required. The girls themselves were also starting to become concerned about attending the future education and had voiced, that if it were possible to attend a better school, they would leap at the opportunity! 

Taking Action 

The situation was troubling, but not hopeless. We were presented with an opportunity to continue our walk with the girls through their high school education -provided that we took action. At the time, neither Micah6 existed, nor were any funds available to support high school tuition. St. Thomas church was unable to underwrite the school fees and the sum required was more than what we as a small group could afford. After some research, I discovered that Sparks Estate Secondary School, although under resourced, had a dedicated staff and headmistress who knew how achieve a lot, with very little. The annual fee for attending the school was R850 for the school year of 2009. However, this was more than what we, or the families of the girls’ could afford. Undeterred, we began canvassing friends and family as well as the people, who through their involvement with the programme, had taken in interest the lives of the girls. A few people agreed to become sponsors, and on the first day of school 2009, seven girls entered grade eight at Sparks Estate Secondary School. As the girls stood nervously in their new oversized uniforms, we knew that we could significantly change the lives of these young women. This was the dawn of Micah6.

First day at high school

Micah6 Today 

Micah6 was registered on 8 June 2010 in terms of the Non-Profit Organisation Act. For the period before this Micah6 was not a legal entity and with no membership board. Micah6 functioned in partnership with St. Thomas Church who received funding on our behalf and volunteers spearheaded the programme. Although the partnership with St. Thomas Church was beneficial and much appreciated in the early stages, it was felt that we needed to obtain an organizational vehicle such as NPO status for increased financial accountability and independence as well as future growth potential. As a result a board of three members was created in fulfillment of the requirements of an NPO, a constitution was drawn up and we applied for NPO status. Currently the membership board consists of:

Jennifer Pudifin – Chairman 

Caroline Goodier – Secretary 

Gabrielle Wills – Treasurer 

In addition to these three members, a faithful group of volunteers serve the organization. Coral Wills is a high capacity volunteer who sees to the well-being of the girls each Tuesday afternoon while Gabrielle Wills and Caroline Goodier provide extra English lessons. Bradford Wills and Alan Wills are involved on a monthly basis conducting computer lessons and offering strategic advice. Support is also offered from current financial sponsors including both individuals and firms. 

We are most grateful to the following who have committed to Micah6’s financial sustainability: Alan Wills and Associates; Coastland Sales; Gabrielle and Bradford Wills; Clare van der Stoep; Jennifer Pudifin Beverly de Kok; Coral Wills; Belinda Croxon; Charmian Silcocks and other members of small group at St. Thomas Church; Sarah Pudifin; Gavin Surgey; Alexandra and Hylton Mowday; Rotary Ethekwini Educational Trust and The Andrew Mentis Nomads Foundation. 

Currently there are five girls who are sponsored to attend Sparks Estate Secondary and a further two girls at Inanda Seminary. The programme also provides extra lessons to a further three girls who are not directly sponsored.