Fish Hoek, a small town on the Cape Peninsula, is making a big contribution to the education of previously disadvantaged children via the Empowerment through Education Trust (ETE ).
The Empowerment through Education Trust (ETE) which is driven by Fish Hoek restaurateur, Herbie Eichel is educating 16 children from the community from Grade 1 through to tertiary education.
One learner , Donica Telegram from Ocean View has received an academic award as a top student at the prize giving at the Sun Valley school.“ Since her start at Sun Valley Donica has received very favourable reports each term and we are all delighted with her steady and consistent progress. All the other children are also achieving well above average grades and continue to do well , “ says Eichel .” This is testimony to the success of the programme and their enthusiasm to learn.”
The ETE Trust , together with Rotary and Valley Development Projects as major partners, has established two schools in the poverty stricken areas which are staffed by teachers also trained by the Trust. “ Children from each of these pre-schools who exhibit the most talent, determination and potential are selected by the teachers and the ETE board with the approval, support and consent of their parents and are sponsored through to tertiary education at formal schools,” says Eichel.
In order to continue with the programme and increase the number of children being educated the ETE Trust is reliant on donations. The Trust has just achieved a major boost from Metropolitan Foundation, an independently run and operated foundation which focuses on health and education through its founding donor MMI Holdings Limited (Metropolitan and Momentum group of companies). The Foundation has presented ETE with a cheque for R.
Eichel says the Metropolitan donation is a major acknowledgement of the good work begun by ETE and is a recognition by big business of the need to address education in poverty stricken areas.
“ Not only are we educating the children, but the entire community benefits as the children tend to influence their families and peers thereby encouraging a desire for education and self improvement throughout the community. We see this programme as a springboard for advancement of the entire community and are confident that our children will become leaders, not only in their community but in politics and business at large,” added Eichel.
For further information, please contact:
Herbie Eichel Email : Cell :
or
Simon Brooke Email: Cell :