Philippolis Digital Learning Campus
Philippolis in the Free State is where the GWF story began, when in 2005 a group of plucky volunteers and community members built a preschool there, in response to an urgent need in this rural community.
Seeing the transformative power of education on the young people of Philippolis, teacher Kate Groch and others were inspired to form a non-profit called the Good Work Foundation – which today runs six digital learning campuses, including the one in Philippolis, which is built next to the original preschool.
History
The Philippolis Campus opened in 2015 in the village of Bergmanshoogte. This Karoo town may be sleepy, but its people are certainly believers and dreamers.
Today, the Philippolis campus runs an Open Learning Academy (OLA) for local primary school learners and a Bridging Year Academy (BYA) for school leavers wanting to enter the world of work, together employing 11 staff members.
Digital-led learning has taken root and flourished, with more than 600 children enrolled in the campus’s OLA, and its BYA having produced more than 50 graduates to date – many of whom got their headstart in life by attending the crèche built by volunteers all those years ago, attesting to the power of investing in early childhood development!
Milla van Wyk
Philippolis Digital Learning Campus Manager
How you'd describe your own personal brand?
My mantra is that you should never, ever dwell on your circumstances – if you are positive and stay focused, everything is possible. There is nothing more beautiful than someone who goes out of their way to make life beautiful for others.
What are your goals and aspirations?
My hope and dream is to influence young people to see that there are opportunities that they can get and to believe in themselves as much as we do and lose hope. I also aspire to believe in myself to strive towards my dreams.
What do you consider to be your most impressive achievements?
My journey with Good Work Foundation started formally in 2014, but I’d been involved in the Philippolis community in the Free State for years, including in adult literacy and taking care of older people as part of the Barmhartige Samaritaan (Good Samaritans) volunteer group. Later, I worked with GWF CEO Kate Groch as her assistant, helping to build our campus and the Wielie Walie Crèche.
What's one quirky or fun fact about you?
My mood swings. I get angry quickly and then in a minute I can change and crack a joke and everyone will laugh.
Related campus stories
Campus partners
