Our Programmes

The Open Learning Academy (OLA) is a model that focuses on English literacy, math’s literacy, digital literacy, wild-literacy and life skills for rural schoolchildren. It has been pioneered by GWF’s CEO, Kate Groch, with her background as a teacher, in response to specific challenges faced in rural schools, including the need for the development of STEM skills. The OLA does not replace the state curriculum but rather supplements the existing learning so as to bolster and support learning in rural schools, where it is most needed.

The programme is heavily underpinned by wonder-filled, gamified learning, that aims to reignite a love for learning. Phase 1 Grade 4 learners from participating schools come to the campus every week for a year as part of their formal study timetable. Each learner has one 60 – 90-minute session and learners are split into groups of no more than ten and – guided by a digital facilitator – work through a digital syllabus. The programme focus areas include English, Maths, Digital, and Conservation. Phase 2 A qualified digital facilitator – together with a charging trolley full of tablet computers and education software – extends the learning environment created at the Open Learning Academy back into the primary school, ensuring ongoing learning for grade five learners, and then grade six and seven in subsequent years. To meet a young learner called Karabo and watch our video explaining the OLA model, click here You can also see the Open Learning Academy in action by clicking here.

With a youth unemployment rate of 65% in many areas of rural South Africa, it is critical that every effort is made to support young people from these communities. As GWF scales its operations, it continues to implement best practice education programmes for the thousands of rural young adults who are unemployed and who do not have access to tertiary education.

In pursuit of that goal, we have developed the Bridging Academy curriculum; a yearlong course that enables adults to become proficient in skills that are required in a 21st century workspace. The programme has evolved over time from an initial focus on digital and English skills to a holistic six-module programme. It aims to equip our students with the skills, self-knowledge, drive, motivation and sense of purpose needed to take their next steps in life. Throughout this process, the Academy provides learners with practical seminars that focus on applied learning.

We also make use of psychometric assessments, as well as both pre- and post-tests, to measure impact, as well as career pathing tools to give weight to the career module. We aim for over 70% of students go on to a job, an internship or a further study opportunity within 12 months of graduating.

The IT Academy, based at the Hazyview Digital Learning Campus, provides a one-year, further education training certificate called “Technical Support”. This is MICT SETA aligned and approved (SAQA ID: 78964, NQF Level 4, 164 Credits). In addition to local NQF aligned assignments, students also write relevant internationally recognized CompTIA assessments:

A+ is the starting point for a career in IT. The performance-based exams certify foundational IT skills across a variety of devices and operating systems.

Network+ certifies the essential skills needed to confidently design, configure, manage and troubleshoot any wired and wireless devices. Security+ provides a global benchmark for best practices in IT network and operational security, one of the fastest growing fields in IT.

In South Africa’s Mpumalanga province, close to some of the most celebrated safari businesses in the world, there is a shortage of hospitality training programmes for young adults. This gap is even more surprising when you consider that in the Bushbuckridge municipality, adjacent to the Greater Kruger National Park, there is a 65% youth unemployment rate. For this reason, GWF has built on our existing digital learning programme foundation, adding registered Hospitality & Conservation courses – making up the GWF Travel & Tourism Academy (TTA). The intention is to connect young rural South Africans to the opportunities in the growing economy of wildlife. Considering the geographic location of the Hazyview Cluster and potential growth for campuses into the northern part of the Sabi Sand Wildtuin, there is an opportunity to supply skills to some of South Africa’s most upmarket hospitality establishments.

There are currently just short of 40 operating lodges (ranging from 3-5 star) in the Sabi Sand Wildtuin alone. There are a further 100 smaller establishments between Hoedspruit and Hazyview. A major concern expressed by business managers and owners is that the level of service skill they require currently far outweighs the level of skill available in local communities. While many of these businesses would like to employ local labour, and are even willing to train and develop staff, they often don’t have the capacity to do so given their primary objectives in business operations. Driven by needs and expertise, GWF aims to train students that can meet the standard that is needed in hospitality establishments, reducing the training and development needed once graduates are placed. The GWF Hospitality Programme is presented in partnership with the South African College of Tourism or SACT from 2019 which has enabled us to offer students the SACT accreditation. SACT enjoys full accreditation as a training provider with the Culture Art Tourism Hospitality and Sport Sector Education and Training Authority (CATHSSETA) of South Africa in accordance with regulation 16 of the SAQA Act 58 of 1995 under reference No. 613/P/000041/2005. The college is officially recognized by CATHSSETA as an Institute of Sectoral or Occupational Excellence.