what and where are the sparrow schools?
Sparrow Schools are part of a non-profit making Educational Trust set up in 1990 in South Africa to help children and young people overcome educational problems caused by apartheid, disability and HIV/Aids.
The schools, which originally started in a church hall, were founded by Jackie Gallagher to promote the needs of the children and to provide affordable, quality education to children whose learning has been disrupted through official and other neglect.
Jackie Gallagher and Sparrow Schools have been nominated for and won several awards in South Africa and have received the personal recognition and support of Nelson Mandela.
There are now 2 schools in Johannesburg helping 500 students aged between 7 and 21. Uniquely in South Africa, these schools provide very low cost specialist education for children with learning difficulties.
Children who simply cannot cope in mainstream education and therefore are likely to have no education at all, are taught basic literacy and numeracy, and given skills such as carpentry, welding and cookery so as to become contributing members of society.
The schools, which originally started in a church hall, were founded by Jackie Gallagher to promote the needs of the children and to provide affordable, quality education to children whose learning has been disrupted through official and other neglect.
Jackie Gallagher and Sparrow Schools have been nominated for and won several awards in South Africa and have received the personal recognition and support of Nelson Mandela.
There are now 2 schools in Johannesburg helping 500 students aged between 7 and 21. Uniquely in South Africa, these schools provide very low cost specialist education for children with learning difficulties.
Children who simply cannot cope in mainstream education and therefore are likely to have no education at all, are taught basic literacy and numeracy, and given skills such as carpentry, welding and cookery so as to become contributing members of society.
HIV/AIDS
In the past three years over 20% of the children at Sparrow have lost parents, guardians and family members through HIV/AIDS. This number is growing annually and many children now face the responsibility of raising and providing for their families on their own or being left to fend for themselves.
Sparrow Schools believe that education is the main hope for these children and has special bursaries to enable them to continue at the schools. They also help to provide places of safety, food parcels and counselling for families as well as the special teaching programmes.
Sparrow Schools believe that education is the main hope for these children and has special bursaries to enable them to continue at the schools. They also help to provide places of safety, food parcels and counselling for families as well as the special teaching programmes.