Foundation Project

Sanlam Foundation has partnered with the Regency Foundation and the Provincial Department of Education to prevent and manage HIV and AIDS in schools.  The Regency Foundation is a NGO that assists schools to develop, integrate and implement their own HIV and AIDS policies, in keeping with national government priorities and regulations. 
 
The programme, HIV&Me, integrates the scientific and social aspects of the epidemic and encourages behavioural change and ongoing healthy lifestyles.  It launched during 2011 in 20 schools in Kwa-Zulu Natal.  Participating schools receive a comprehensive two-year training programme that starts with training workshops for teachers and the community, continues with an in-classroom programme for Grade 8’s during Life Orientation, and concludes in the second year with the same pupils in Grade 9.  In addition, parents, families and the community will be involved through the respective school’s governing bodies.
 
Through this partnership, Sanlam employees will have the opportunity to escalate Sanlam’s impact by teaching financial literacy skills to students and the larger community. 
 
Sanlam engagement with these 20 schools to deliver a 3 year intervention includes Training and Reinforcement, the Family Support Program (FSP) and School Policy Workshops, as well as and Pre and Post Learner Assessments. The latter providing a benchmark for measuring change in learner knowledge, attitude and practice in areas relating to HIV&AIDS prevention and management, as a result of participating in the program.
 
Schools were selected in consultation with the KZN Department of Education (DoE), specifically Pinetown District Mafukuzela Gandhi Circuit and Umlazi District Durban Central Circuit. Gr9 Life Orientation (LO) and Natural Science (NS) educator reach as well as Gr9 learner reach are indicated per district in the tables below. Total direct learner reach is 5421 and total grade 9 LO and NS educator reach is 76.
 
The HIV&Me launched for the 2 regions took place on the 3rd and 4th of August 2011 respectively. Both launches enjoyed representation of educators and school management team (SMT) members (principal, deputy principal, heads of departments, school governing bodies), as well as grade 9 learners from some of the participant schools. The launch, hosted and arranged by the respective Departments of Education (DoE), provided a platform for DoE advocacy and endorsement of the programme. At both launches District and Circuit Managers as well as Special Education and Curriculum Specialists conveyed the importance of HIV&AIDS education and thanked Sanlam for their support and contribution. Jodi Ramsay (HIV&Me Programme Manager) provided a more detailed account of the school implementation process, and the responsibility and role of the schools as partners in the initiative. Adele Latchman (Sanlam Foundation) explained the vision of the Sanlam Foundation, and the commitment of Sanlam to HIV&Me and the participant schools. There were 43 delegates from Umlazi and 51 from Pinetown.