The possibility of an Education that works

Symphonia is an Organisational Change practice that works with leaders to engage their stakeholders so that “talent, human energy and creativity are maximized”, says Veronica Wantenarr, organisational development specialist for Symphonia. Their mission, she highlights, is to “ignite a sense of possibility everywhere they work”.

There are three companies sharing the Symphonia brand who work together to develop leadership skills and the capacity of leaders in South Africa, namely, Symphonia for Leadership Development, Symphonia for South Africa and Symphonia Consulting.

‘School @ the Centre of Community’ is Symphonia for South Africa’s newest project, focusing on a collaborative approach between schools, parents, children and their communities. Many of the social challenges people face in South Africa are directly related to the breakdown of community but through placing the school at the centre, Symphonia intends to strengthen the fabric of South African society.

Experienced business and community leaders are partnered (by Symphonia) with school principles. Together, they enroll communities around the schools to actively and enthusiastically engage in the challenges of that particular school. Once Symphonia has created the partnership, the business leaders are requested to bring their skills, knowledge and experience into the school, through the process of workshops, experimental learning, community practise sessions and teaching support.

“In order for Symphonia to be successful, it is important to have a positive and strong principle to act as a pillar for the partnership”, says Wantenaar.

Heathfield Primary School, located in Elfindale, Western Cape, partnered with Sue-Anne Bakker from ‘Perspectives’, and is one of Symphonia’s most successful schools. Principal Andre Pretorius explains he is a “principal for possibility for South Africa” and believes every child should be pulled into the centre of the circle, not marginalized. Pretorius is a force within his community, regularly speaking to youth, running workshops and making sure the parents of his school are fully engaged. For example, at the school’s recent parent/teaching meeting, Pretorius set the room up so the parents sat in groups of three, encouraging them to communicate with one another, as opposed to just him.

“How can businesses wait for a corrupt government to step up”, bemoans Pretorius, who is frustrated that the education system changes every year but doesn’t sustain or create change in for education.

One particular partnership between Fairmount High School and The Vineyard Hotel in Newlands, Cape Town, has changed the life of a young man known as Cameron. Cameron was repeating Grade 11 at Fairmount High School and Symphonia staff were told he would keep failing because he wasn’t academic enough. Louise Van Ryhn, founder of Symphonia, approached the hotel because Cameron had shown a real gift for cooking and the Vineyard’s executive chef, Alex Docherty, agreed to give him one week’s work experience. Cameron impressed him so much that Docherty added him to the bursary list for the trainee opportunity the hotel had been recruiting for. Out of the long list of candidates Cameron was selected and will now join the hotel in the New Year on a two year chef traineeship – with pay.

Other successful partnerships include Macassar Primary with Faadiel Nordien from Nedbank and Holy Cross Sisters School with Lizelle Esterhuizen from Metropolitan Foundation.

Symphonia is a unique organisation because it works towards providing the platform to improve education in South Africa, as opposed to accepting the repetitive failing educational systems in practice. Instead of throwing more money at the problem, the School at the Centre of Community initiative provides an opportunity for organisations to have their business leaders actively involved in actually solving the educational challenges in South Africa.

Image 1 – Cameron working at The Vineyard Hotel

Image 2 – Principle Andre Pretorius and Veronica Wantenarr

Image 3 – Heathfield Primary School Vision statement