From humble beginnings to a thriving community school—our journey of education, empowerment, and upliftment continues.
Prior to 1994 farm children walked for many kilometres to poorly resourced school rooms, with no running water or ablutions and with scarcely trained teachers, dotted all around the rural area.
In 1990, after discussions with the community and the Winterberg Farmer’s Association, the Winterberg School Trust was established – a vehicle through which the community could begin to address its educational challenges. It was decided that a high-quality central school needed to be built in the area where children could be transported to daily, in order to access high-quality education without breaking up the family unit.
With a seed grant from the Paul and Stella Lowenstein Trust, the Winterberg School Trust purchased 4ha of land on which the people of the Winterberg Community began to build this incredible community school. The amalgamation of several farm schools into a distinguished school of excellence, complete with well-established facilities for the broader community, has been made possible by generous donations from individual and corporate donors.
The Community School has developed substantially since its inception. The school has over the last 30 years been a hub not only for educating children, but for youth and women empowerment, adult education, community wellness and engagement and so much more. The school has maintained a focus on Early Childhood Development so as to help keep young children living at home and in education for as long as possible before they are required to travel further afield for continued schooling.
The Winterberg School Trust continues to find ways to grow and meet the evolving needs of the community, and we are incredibly proud of all we have achieved together over the past 30 years.
The Winterberg School Trust offers quality education to approximately 125 learners from ECD to Grade 7. We follow the CAPS curriculum with English as the medium of instruction. Small class sizes, including some multigrade groups, allow for individual attention and a strong focus on holistic development. Our education programme is run by committed teachers, many of whom have roots in the Winterberg community and have come through our education system themselves.
Learners benefit from a solid academic foundation, with essential resources such as stationery, textbooks, and art supplies provided to support their learning experience. Literacy development is a key focus, and we are fortunate to have an extensive selection of age-appropriate books that inspire a love of reading. Our programme fosters a well-rounded education by offering opportunities for gross-motor skills development through participation in athletics, netball and soccer.
Thanks to generous donations of technology equipment, we proudly incorporate digital literacy into our curriculum, offering weekly computer lessons from Grade R to Grade 7. These lessons focus on basic computer application skills and coding—essential skills for thriving in the modern world that our children are growing up in.
One of our most crucial initiatives is our feeding scheme. Recognising the long and challenging days our children face, many of whom are picked up by our buses as early as 5 am and return home late in the afternoon, we understand that adequate nutrition is essential for their overall development and educational success.
Unfortunately, many of our children arrive at school without enough food to sustain them throughout the day, which significantly hinders their ability to learn and develop holistically. In mid-2024, we initiated a feeding scheme with the support of generous donations, allowing us to provide meals 2-3 times a week. However, this is not enough. Our goal is to ensure that each child receives a daily nutritious meal, enabling all our learners to thrive both academically and physically.
At the Winterberg School Trust, we prioritise the health and well-being of our learners, providing a ‘safe haven’ for many who face challenging home lives.
We organise Wellness Days, where health professionals volunteer their time and expertise to provide screenings and support, helping to identify and address health needs within the school and the broader community.
It has become clear through these Wellness Days and community discussions that there is a pressing need for basic healthcare access in our remote area. This has prompted us to begin the establishment of a Clinic that will serve our learners and the wider community. The Clinic will offer primary healthcare services on a more regular basis, providing check-ups, ensuring vaccinations are administered and addressing various health concerns. We hope to get this off the ground soon!
Access to education for our children would not be possible without the transport service provided by the Winterberg School Trust, as no public transport services are available in the Winterberg area.
Many learners live on farms up to 50 km from the school, making safe and reliable transport essential. The Trust operates three Toyota Quantum buses, ensuring that students and teachers can travel to and from school each day. Our bus drivers cover approximately 700 km daily on our challenging dirt roads, beginning their routes at 5am and finishing around 5pm. This essential service helps bridge the gap between home and school, making education more accessible to the children living in our deep rural community.
The Winterberg School Trust is dedicated to supporting past pupils through our Bursary Programme, which enables talented learners to attend reputable high schools after completing Grade 7 at our school. We provide essential support by covering tuition fees, providing essential stationery and materials and ensuring ongoing socio-emotional support for these learners.
Recognising the challenges faced by many of our local schools, our bursary programme is crucial in helping our students access better educational opportunities. Each year, a new bursary is awarded to the top-performing Grade 7 student with ongoing support throughout their high school journey. This commitment empowers students to pursue their dreams, creating pathways to brighter futures.
The Winterberg School Trust recognises the vital role of parental involvement in a child’s education.
The school hosts quarterly parent meetings that encourage open discussions on school and community matters, providing opportunities for collaboration and hands-on workshops. These sessions address key topics such as substance misuse, the importance of completing homework, healthy eating habits, regular school attendance, literacy development, and overall health and hygiene.
The school’s book and toy libraries are available to all, giving families access to books and educational toys to support early childhood development in their homes.
Our soccer field is also open to the entire community on weekends and plays a vital role in fostering social engagement and connection among the families living in the isolated Winterberg area.
Over the years, the Winterberg School Trust has been committed to empowering adults in the Winterberg community through various skills development initiatives, which led to the establishment of Luncedo.
This initiative is made up of previously unemployed women who received training in sewing and fabric painting. Using their skills, they have built a sustainable business that produces all our school tracksuits, as well as making and repairing home items and clothing.
Members of Luncedo rely entirely on this business for their monthly income. The Winterberg School Trust supports their efforts by providing a designated workspace at the school and daily transport, along with opportunities for additional learning. The Winterberg School Trust also offers assistance in financial management and administration to ensure the continued growth and success of the enterprise.
© All Rights Reserved 2025 | WINTERBERG SCHOOL TRUST | TM 1272 (E) | 020-729-NPO | PBO 18/11/13/1688 | Section 18A Tax Status (RSA)
In collaboration with SimonSAYS and Perfect Circle.
Banking details: Winterberg School Trust
Bank Name: FNB
Account No: 53850005639
Branch Code: 250655
International Swift Code: FIRNZAJJ
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