Hope and Light School

History:

Hope and Light Community Welfare was founded by Barbara Tofaute in 2004 with the intention to support the destitute in Sir Lowrys Pass Village, thereby establishing a beacon of hope amidst the climate of poverty and crime that besets the community.

Our goal is to establish a healthy environment for children, free of crime and abuse. We would like to empower them to overcome poverty and prejudice in order to find the way to safe and self-sufficient lives. In particular, we focus on those impoverished children who are also exposed to further disadvantages such as the impact of HIV/Aids on their lives or sexual abuse. Our belief is that only a well educated and properly equipped new generation can make the contribution needed to meet the tremendous challenges faced in South Africa.

Vision and Mission:

Vision: Striving to achieve learners’ full potential through quality education and creating a safe environment for the children in our care

We will strive to achieve our vision through:

• Creating quality education for all our learners
• Creating opportunities for holistic learning
• Creating an atmosphere of love & grace
• Creating a safe and happy environment conducive for learning and growing up.

Vision: Striving to achieve learners’ full potential through quality education and creating a safe environment for the children in our care

Objectives

• To provide holistic Education and Learning to disempowered and socially excluded learners by ensuring the acquisition of knowledge, skills and attitudes which will assist them in their pursuit of wholeness to become equal, valuable, and contributing members of society
• Facilitate and promote opportunities and pathways for learners to ensure ongoing learning, training and development and enable Learners to develop and sustain social and community relationships.
• Provide a safe and nurturing environment for vulnerable, abandoned and abused children of all races, faiths, and backgrounds to empower them as valuable members of society

Community:

The Bay Family Christian Church is one of our big partners – the CYCC children attend services there on Sundays, support is provided at the CYCC and the school with assemblies (Pastor Kerryn van Niekerk).

Extracurricular activities:

• sport: netball and soccer, athletics
• dance, drama and art
• Most children participate in an extra-mural

2024: For the first time Hope and Light took part in the local Helderberg Eisteddfod. 21 of our students participated across the categories of visual arts, dance and drama. These learners did very well and achieved bronze, silver and gold awards for their artwork and performance pieces.