History of The Norfolk Venda Educational Project
The Norfolk Venda Educational Project originated within the Norfolk Branch of British Executive Service Overseas (BESO) which was chaired by Dr Philip Jepson. He contacted a former student of his at the Medical University of Southern Africa, Dr Solly Nkhumeleni who is now an orthodontist in Pretoria, South Africa.
BESO was a charity set up by the DTI, CBI and the IOD in the UK to send volunteer advisers to help individuals, companies and agencies in countries in the developing and underdeveloped world. It has now lost its identity and is part of VSO.
Tshadzume Primary school, a school of 720 pupils, had been attended by Dr Nkhumeleni as a child and, due to its impoverished nature was his immediate suggestion for an assignment to be established.
In November 2003, an investigative school visit was made by Dr Nkhumeleni, Patricia Jepson and Philip Jepson on behalf of BESO.
The Head Teacher, Mrs Angela Makwarela, submitted an application to BESO for assistance and two retired Head Teachers Ceri and Michelle Holmes were asked by BESO to visit the school and carry out an assignment to include training in Headship skills and further staff training. The assignment was very successful.
Ceri and Michelle were appalled by the lack of accommodation, basic educational essentials and an adequate water supply at the school. There were insufficient desks, chairs and chalkboards for the teachers. The Head Mistress had a cupboard in one of the classrooms but no desk and no office. Each pupil was issued with one pencil and two exercise books per year. There were no reading books. The South African Education Authority allowance was equivalent to £1 per child per year compared to the UK where it was £1500 per child per year.
They decided to take action and the Norfolk Venda Educational Project was born.