“I am always moved by the number of people who are engaged in wonderful acts of transformation, of making a real difference in the world. When each of us does something good – where we are – it’s these acts of goodness that together overwhelm darkness and change the world. I warmly commend Symphonia for South Africa for bringing together citizens committed to building our country through education – such as in the PfP programme. God bless you!”
Desmond Tutu
South African social rights activist and retired Anglican bishop
“Sometimes we focus on moaning, but there’s far more nobility in taking the initiative and doing something about education. There is a very clear link between educational inequality and societal inequality, and the efforts of PfP are really about lighting a candle and improving people’s lives. Business must be commended for its involvement in PfP and I encourage many others to become involved in the future.”
Advocate Thuli Madonsela
Professor in the faculty of law Chair of social justice in the faculty of Law - University of Stellenbosch
“I challenge every company concerned with the future skills set of high school graduates to join the PfP programme in linking principals and corporate leaders in making schools better now, but also in improving our economic futures later.”
Professor Jonathan
Professor at the University of Stellenbosch
“Partners for Possibility (PfP) are focused on transforming our world. They have correctly recognized that we cannot transcend our racialised past and resolve the historical disparities that we have inherited without us learning to partner one other. This is especially so in the educational arena. I therefore wholeheartedly support the innovative thinking and passion that has gone into joining top business leaders with the school principals who most urgently need access to their skills. The lessons about society’s needs, which are gained by business leaders through their interactions in this program, are equally important for advancing nation building. Well done, PfP, for breaking ground and benefitting future generations of South Africans.”
Professor Adam Habib
Vice Chancellor of the University of the Witwatersrand
I got such immense value from the programme, I had no idea what was going on in schools and then when you are closer to the system you see the complexity of the problem. I think that my biggest contribution was just to listen and be a sounding board for the principal, he knew the answers he needed a safe person to talk to and bounce ideas off and to feel that I had his back.
Charmaine Singh
Senior IT Manager at Old Mutual
I have seen massive growth in this educator the more I get to work with her. The buy-in from the other educators at the school and the way one of them has been re-energized with the literacy center project have been highlights for me, but there is plenty of room for more ‘magic’ and ways I can be more involved.
Fambai Marara
Divisional manager at Smollan
PfP gives us as business people a platform to assist in the education sector, which is in crisis, with the skills and networks that we have. I find it especially appealing that the partnership between a business person and school principal is structured as an equal partnership in which both parties can learn from each other. PfP has had a significant impact on my life and the school where I am assisting and I fully support their work in improving basic education in South Africa.
Itumeleng Kgaboesele
CEO of Sphere Holdings
I gained so much more from Partners for Possibility than I could ever have expected. I came to the programme very aware that I knew nothing about the challenges that schools face, but dealing with the programme every day, and the supportive friendship that I got from Principal Angie has been incredible. I try to apply the principles of Time to Think every single day in my work and understanding that giving people the opportunity to think and resolve their own challenges is often a whole lot more powerful than telling them what to do. I’m so grateful that I’ve met Angie on this journey, and this journey will continue, because we are going to finish what we’ve started.
Linda Sinclair
Chief Marketing Officer at Famous Brands
I will be forever grateful to Partners for Possibility for my personal growth. Believe me, it was hard work to get through the year. Sometimes some tears were rolling in the meetings that we had, but it was “happy” tears for the appreciation shown by parents and learners. It was well worth it…a million times over, because it benefited ALL learners and staff at the school and soon the community will look at our school with pride again, like 40 years ago.
Dorian Meyer
Cloetesville High School
My journey with PfP has certainly been a life changing experience. I truly am more empowered than before. I have learnt a lot from my partner, the PfP representatives and other principals and partners in my group. I believe that all principals should go through such a programme, as it will only uplift them and motivate them to strive to bring about change in our schools and in our communities. As a member of teacher’s union SADTU, we are charged with bringing about transformation in education, developing strong leadership and ensuring that Ubuntu principles are upheld. Partners for Possibility has certainly helped me achieve the essence of what SADTU stands for.
Hasina Mahomed
Alpha Primary School
PfP is the most powerful leadership development programme that I have yet encountered in a teaching career of more than 30 years. I have witnessed business leaders and school principals, join in partnership in schools where there was little hope of any change, and have seen them emerge, a year later, with a newfound sense of purpose, with renewed energy and with a firm belief that possibilities, not problems abound.
Ridwan Samodien
Kannemeyer Primary School
“In today’s complex and fast-changing society, leadership is particularly challenging, whether in a school or any other institution. School principals are expected to be visionary and ethical role models who nurture and care for learners, educators and the community. PfP provides an indispensable bridge so that both principals and business leaders share these qualities, the responsibility of leading change at a school and to enrich lives. Through this process business leaders and principals develop new skills, insights and a passion for change.”
Pravin Gordhan
Minister of Public Enterprise
“The National Development Plan is all about different parts of society working with government to increase capacity. The PfP programme is exactly what is needed to make the NDP real and take our education forward. I commend the initiative for what it does for education. But I also commend the initiative for how it develops business people and gets them into communities those business people would not necessarily get involved with. That has to help nation building as well. Well done PfP.”
Trevor Manuel
Former South African Minister in the Presidency for National Planning Commission
“The National Development Plan is all about different parts of society working with government to increase capacity. The PfP programme is exactly what is needed to make the NDP real and take our education forward. I commend the initiative for what it does for education. But I also commend the initiative for how it develops business people and gets them into communities those business people would not necessarily get involved with. That has to help nation building as well. Well done PfP.”
Trevor Manuel
Former South African Minister in the Presidency for National Planning Commission
“I am personally honoured to be able to endorse this amazing 3+ years initiative, PfP, for its purpose of empowering our school principals, especially in previously disadvantaged communities. Isn’t it amazing that those learners whose teachers have high expectations of them, always do well! Our beautiful country will rise or fall, not so much on the quantum of our resources, but on our ability to manage plan, lead, coordinate & organise. The principal, just like a business leader, can have up to 40% positive effect on the results of our learners. Only meaningful education can seriously address our stubbornly high and increasing levels of unemployment which lead to poverty and inequality. We need to urgently continue to ‘grow our own timber’ if we are going to be internationally competitive.”
Bonang Mohale
Chairperson, Bidvest Group
In a world where there is a chronic leadership vacuum and pockets of excellence, I am inspired by this home-grown, innovative and sustainable solution which places education at the center of community. We invite you to join us in creating new possibilities, new partnerships, collaborative and experiential approaches for leadership development in a changing environment that requires a new intelligence. This is essential for us to leapfrog South Africa to realize her full potential.
Wendy Luhabe
Economic Activist and Social Entrepreneur
“Rarely have I come across a programme that so effectively builds educational capacity, while strengthening the very fabric of our society. By bringing together the leadership capacity, business acumen and networks of corporate South Africa and the grit, heart and shoestring innovation of school principals, PfP is creating great leverage in the education sector. Business leaders are sharing their knowledge and skills while at the same time learning how to deal with ambiguity, complexity and how to influence without direct authority. School principals learn invaluable leadership skills while making the school a place of learning for leaders who are courageous enough to cross a boundary to an environment so different from their comfortable corporate office. Reconciliation in South Africa will ultimately happen when people discover each other’s humanity and develop relationships across traditional boundaries as we see happen through programmes like PfP.”
Hixonia Nyasulu
Former Chairman of Sasol Ltd
I will be forever grateful to Partners for Possibility for my personal growth. Believe me, it was hard work to get through the year. Sometimes some tears were rolling in the meetings that we had, but it was “happy” tears for the appreciation shown by parents and learners. It was well worth it…a million times over, because it benefited ALL learners and staff at the school and soon the community will look at our school with pride again, like 40 years ago.
Dorian Meyer
Cloetesville High School
My journey with PfP has certainly been a life changing experience. I truly am more empowered than before. I have learnt a lot from my partner, the PfP representatives and other principals and partners in my group. I believe that all principals should go through such a programme, as it will only uplift them and motivate them to strive to bring about change in our schools and in our communities. As a member of teacher’s union SADTU, we are charged with bringing about transformation in education, developing strong leadership and ensuring that Ubuntu principles are upheld. Partners for Possibility has certainly helped me achieve the essence of what SADTU stands for.
Hasina Mahomed
Alpha Primary School
PfP is the most powerful leadership development programme that I have yet encountered in a teaching career of more than 30 years. I have witnessed business leaders and school principals, join in partnership in schools where there was little hope of any change, and have seen them emerge, a year later, with a newfound sense of purpose, with renewed energy and with a firm belief that possibilities, not problems abound.
