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CSR continues to be the focus of the post-millennium business sector as companies aim to redress the skills' imbalance in South Africa. Projects that will specifically equip entrepreneurs and the workforces of the future with critical skills are crucial to empowerment. Corporate South Africa continues to spend thousands of Rands on CSR yet this expenditure often has little identifiable developmental impact. For this philanthropy to succeed, CSR spend should be treated as an investment like any other, demanding orientated and measurable results - rather than being viewed purely as charitable grants. With this in mind, we will continue to uncover first time projects and ideas through an innovative approach in order to achieve real developmental impact.
December 9th saw the launch of the first Innovation Bazaar. This event started as an innovative concept designed to nurture, showcase and connect selected Western Cape projects involved in Maths, Science, Technology and Entrepreneurship in education with relevant funders. The Bazaar was the remarkable result of an intense process where projects followed a thorough capacity-building programme in order to participate. Funders were provided with handbooks describing each of the ten project proposals as a preview of the Bazaar, which provided an opportunity for discussion and insight into the details of each project. The day was an overwhelming success, with the following funding achieved:
We are currently evaluating the event in the hope of improving our efforts towards a future Innovation Bazaar - intended to take place in August or September this year. 
Inspired by the same spirit seen in the development of open source software globally, we are proud to support the formation of the Schools Linux User Group (SLUG), a volunteer group dedicated to the promotion of open source software in schools. Combining our resources with the commitment and passion of the SLUG volunteers, the Open Source Learning Centre (OSLC) project has grown exponentially since its launch in 2003. Beginning with two pilots at Nooitgedacht Primary School and Hyde Park Primary respectively, the project provided schools with computer labs running open source software. Teachers and learners easily migrated to the new environment, using the system for education and administration. The project gave old school equipment a new lease on life, by reconfiguring outmoded computers into a new Linux powered thin-client network. The official launch of SLUG in Cape Town in September last year was supported by an 'installfest'. Enthusiastic SLUG members invited the public to bring their computers to the venue and have Linux installed under the watchful eye of experienced professionals. Since then SLUG has grown from strength to strength, recently hosting its first AGM. Currently, the SLUG announcement mailing list reaches approximately 87 members. With the success of the pilot phase, the open source team now has a mandate to install a further 80 Open Source Learning Centers by the end of February 2005. Through the power of volunteers, the OSLC project has become less about technology implementation and more about creating truly sustainable and empowering educational opportunities for learners. For more information on the Schools Linux User Group, including how to get involved, we encourage you to visit the SLUG website at www.slug.org.za For more information on the Foundation's open source activities, please visit www.shuttleworthfoundation.org/oscp/
SAILI The SAILI Grade six and seven Catch-up programme is a Maths enrichment programme that was targeted at 60 Grade six learners and 40 Grade seven learners from 20 Western Cape schools. The SAILI project rests in the pedagogical import of maths and science concepts. It takes into consideration that maths and science provide learners with a completely new system of thinking and hence the subject and key concepts are difficult to assimilate. SAILI addresses this issue by providing a unique way of dealing with conceptual and cognitive difficulties in maths and science. An evaluation has been completed and will be made available on our website. Sibikwa Sibikwa is a Gauteng based NGO focussing on innovative, educational drama strategies to teach Technology and Science. This project currently consists of foundation and advanced courses. Foundation Course This course, funded by the Foundation, equipped teachers with:
Advanced Course This component of the programme will target 100 educators who have gone through the foundation course and is scheduled to commence as of the beginning of Feb/March 2004.
Hip2B2, aims to be the first socially responsible youth brand in South Africa with all proceeds going towards the Shuttleworth Foundation"s planned education initiatives. For more information on the Hip2B2, range, please contact Yvonne van Zandwijk on 021 970 1216 or email
Funding was approved for a total of 15 projects in the last quarter of 2003 continuing with the mandate to make a positive impact on education. Some of these projects are:
2004 Innovation Bazaar The Innovation Bazaar, to be held in August or September, will expand by incorporating two provinces (Gauteng and the Western Cape) and showcasing about 30 maths, science, technology and entrepreneurship in education projects as well as including presentations on topical issues relevant to funders and projects alike. The Telkom Foundation Teachers Support Programme In association with the Telkom Foundation, the Foundation will be working on an initiative with educators to create an innovative resource manual that will showcase the good work that they are doing. Remember that, if you have an interesting and innovative project which assists in the development of Science, Maths, Technology and Entrepreneurship in education in South Africa, please send your proposal to or fax (021) 970 1201. Visit www.shuttleworthfoundation.org for more information or contact us on (021) 970 1200. If you are a corporate or business that wants to get involved in the funding of projects and programmes on a national scale, you are also invited to give us a call.
 P.O.Box 4163, Durbanville 7551, South Africa Tel + 27 21 970 1200 • Fax + 27 21 970 1201 www.shuttleworthfoundation.org • Please contact to be added to or removed from this mailing list, or visit our website. This newsletter is constructed and managed with Ubuntu Media's E-Bean publishing system |
