Imagine a classroom that comes to you – one that rolls into your community, bringing books, technology and opportunity to your backyard.
‘The Travelling Classroom – the school that comes to you’ comprises two mobile computer and library classrooms that have significantly impacted rural areas in the Cape Winelands District.
This inspiring initiative, launched by leading premium wine producer DGB, has doubled its capacity with the recent unveiling by Minister of Agriculture John Steenhuisen of a second state-of-the-art mobile learning facility, which took place at Alfons Primary School in Paarl on 10 February 2025.
‘South Africa face three major challenges: unemployment, inequality and poverty. I think education is the key to the remedy for each of those three particular problems facing us. Making sure that every child in South Africa, no matter their background, is able to access a good quality of education surely has to be one of the easiest ways to level the playing field in our country,’ said Steenhuisen.
‘The reality is that the government cannot do it on its own. Limited resources mean that we have to partner with the private sector, with organisations like DGB and others, to be able to meet the huge need that we have to make sure that our children are learning and that the opportunities exist for them to succeed and go forth to become the leaders of tomorrow.’
Each classroom, a fully equipped, 15-metre trailer truck, travels across the Winelands, visiting 19 schools on a bi-weekly schedule.
These learning hubs, costing R4.5 million each to kit out and R750 000 a year to run and operate, bring a multitude of books as well as a computer centre aiming to bridge the educational gap and uplift over 5 000 primary school children and 153 teachers from 19 regional primary schools each year.
Over 80% of Grade 4 students at schools in these areas struggle to comprehend what they read. This stark reality is a barrier to their academic success and future potential.
‘The Travelling Classroom’ serves as a beacon of hope, igniting a flame of curiosity in each child it reaches, to nurture children’s educational experiences and address their challenges head-on by bringing vital educational resources and holistic development to the heart of the communities that need them most.
Inside ‘The Travelling Classroom’
The ‘Travelling Classroom’ programme focuses on three key areas
- Language and literacy development: A wide range of educational reading materials are available to encourage love for books and reading. Research shows strong reading skills lead to improved school performance and self-confidence.
- Maths and computer literacy: Each classroom is equipped with 20 laptops with internet access, and the Green Shoots MCO online mathematics programme is offered. It is aligned with the South African curriculum while addressing the lack of access to technology in communities in need.
- Social Conscience: The third component focuses on nurturing emerging moral values among children, emphasising the importance of responsible citizenship.
Investing in the future
The success of this second ‘Travelling Classroom’ was made possible through a financial investment equally shared between the DGB Charitable Trust and the DGB Executive Chairman’s family trust Hutch – Giving Children A Chance Trust.
The initiative is further backed by leading donors, Daimler Truck, Ardagh Glass Packaging and Rhenus Logistics, as well as an ever-expanding network of passionate individuals, businesses and organisations who share a common ethos: ‘If we can change the beginning of the story, we can change the whole story’.
‘To replicate and further grow the drive to improve early childhood development in underprivileged communities, we invite donors to join and help pave the way to brighter futures,’ explains DGB Executive Chairman Tim Hutchinson.
‘If we can see children progress to higher education while remembering the lessons they’ve learnt at our facility, then we will all be better people for it.’
Principals applaud the mobile centre’s impact on education
The impact of ‘The Travelling Classroom’ is already being felt in the community, with school principals expressing their gratitude and seeing tangible improvements in student engagement and performance.
Mr Solomons, principal of Alfons Primary School, praised the project for providing excellent learning tools, while Mr Forves, principal of Rondeheuwel Primary School, noted the significant improvement in attendance on days when the mobile classroom visits.
Kinderland Akademie’s role in empowering the youth
Kinderland Akademie, the registered community outreach of the Kinderland Trust, coordinates the day-to-day activities. The dedicated project team, led by Dr Thys Smith and Mrs Ilse Human, oversees the logistics, educational oversight, organisational management and administrative support, ensuring the seamless operation and success of the project.
Through the unwavering investment of expertise and commitment of all role players, ‘The Travelling Classroom’ looks forward to growing from strength to strength.
For those who would love to contribute to transforming the educational landscape of young learners in the Cape Winelands, reach out to DGB at [email protected] or contact 021 864 5303 to chat with Ree du Toit.
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Picture: Supplied
