Phemba Mfundi 2011

Over the past three years, the Nelson Mandela Institute for Rural Education and Development has been working with 20 schools from the rural outskirts of the Eastern Cape, in Mqanduli near Umtata. These learners are involved in a programme called Phemba Mfundi, which allows them to express themselves in creative writing, with a focus on poetry.

Phemba Mfundi 2010

We are proud to present the 2nd edition of Phemba mfundi, a journal of learner writing. Like with the first edition we offer un-cut and authentic contributions by rural learners. These contributions reflect subjects rural learners are thinking about, the young people’s developing control of isiXhosa and English languages and genres they are interested and familiar with.

Magic Classrooms

Following three years of research into the state of education at poor rural and urban schools in South Africa, the Nelson Mandela Institute introduced the Magic Classrooms project in 2008 to address problems that had been identified.

Research conducted by the Institute revealed a pattern of underachievement in poor rural and urban schools.

Learner Leadership

The main aim of the learner and teacher development programme is to foster greater enthusiasm for learning and a greater belief in the potential of each child and the ability of teachers to help them flourish.

Ilima Lokufunda

Ilima is an isiXhosa word referring to the tradition where community members come together to plough each other’s fields. Ilima Lokufunda was founded by the communities of the Mqanduli region in the Eastern Cape, in 2008 and seeks to introduce ilima values to South Africa’s modern education system.