29 April 2010
The Anglo American Chairman’s Fund recently announced that its trustees had awarded a substantial grant to the Vula Programme at Hilton College in 2010.

The grant would provide funding for the programme’s ongoing educational outreach work in under-resourced township and rural schools in the Midlands of KwaZulu-Natal.

Mr Lloyd Smuts, the Director of the Vula Programme, thanked the trustees of the Fund for their support.

“Many secondary schools in under-resourced communities in the Midlands are struggling with the demands of the new FET Mathematics and Physical Science syllabi. These demands, coupled with staffing and facility inadequacies, leave many schools in a hope-less position. The Vula Programme provides support and development opportunities in Mathematics, Mathematical Literacy, Physical Science and Technology for these schools,” he said.

Norman Mbazima, the Chairman of the Anglo American Chairman’s Fund expressed his satisfaction in partnering with this champion project.

“Education is a core focus for the Anglo American Chairman’s Fund and partnering with champions, such as the Vula Programme, we hope to make a lasting and real difference and a meaningful contribution towards the promotion of Mathematics and Physical Science education in South Africa. It is this commitment and spirit of partnership that has made us so successful in this sphere. We realise that what we do today is the legacy we leave behind for tomorrow’s leaders to build on.”

The Vula Programme has a number of training and tuition projects which operate throughout the year. During term-time, subject specialists in Mathematics, Mathematical Literacy and Physical Science conduct training sessions at township and rural schools and teacher centres. During school holidays, week-long residential workshops and courses are provided – using mainly the facilities of Hilton College.

The Headmaster of Hilton College, Mr Gavin Thomson, commented:

“The college is justifiably proud of the exceptional training and support opportunities which the Vula programme has provided to beneficiary schools since 2001. We are committed to sharing our facilities and resources, through the Vula Programme, with teachers and learners from township and rural communities in the Midlands. Our grateful thanks to the Anglo American Chairman’s Fund for recognising the value of the work of the Vula Programme and for contributing towards its operating costs in 2010.”

Ends/

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South Africa
Pranill Ramchander, Media Relations
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Notes to Editors:

The Vula Programme is a division of the Hiltonian Society, the legal entity which owns and operates Hilton College.

Hilton College, a well-known independent secondary school for boys, is situated near the village of Hilton in the Midlands of KwaZulu-Natal. The school, which opened in 1872, has a proud history of academic, cultural, sporting and outreach excellence.

The Vula Programme at Hilton College (‘vula’ means ‘open’ in isiZulu) was started in 2001 as the society’s educational service provider to the under-resourced schools and disadvantaged communities in the region.

The programme uses up-to-date technologies, innovative teaching methods and experienced facilitators to concentrate on the upgrading of the teaching and learning of high school Mathematics, Physical Science and Technology.

The programme is underpinned by a belief that access to, and training in, Information Communication Technologies must be an integral part of the skills transfer process when providing relevant and meaningful programmes to its beneficiary communities.

In 2009 the programme worked with teachers and learners from about 90 high schools. These schools are in the greater Midlands area which extends from Pietermaritzburg in the south to Bergville in the north and from Bulwer in the west to Msinga in the east. More than half the schools are in impoverished rural areas.

The Anglo American Chairman’s Fund, throughout its nearly 60 year history, has worked with thousands of ordinary South Africans who do extraordinary things to uplift their fellow citizens. As the leading corporate donor in South Africa, the Anglo American Chairman’s Fund is committed to growing an informed understanding of the challenges these people face. It applies its resources to help these change champions best achieve their visions by giving them access to funding, guiding and advising organisations when needed, and offering networking opportunities. Ultimately, it strives to create environments in which ordinary people are given support to assume greater control over their lives.

Anglo American plc is one of the world’s largest mining companies, is headquartered in the UK and listed on the London and Johannesburg stock exchanges. Its portfolio of mining businesses spans precious metals and minerals – in which it is a global leader in both platinum and diamonds; base metals – copper and nickel; and bulk commodities – iron ore, metallurgical coal and thermal coal. Anglo American is committed to the highest standards of safety and responsibility across all its businesses and geographies and to making a sustainable difference in the development of the communities around its operations. The company’s mining operations and extensive pipeline of growth projects are located in southern Africa, South America, Australia, North America and Asia.
www.angloamerican.co.uk