The Trust has been working with the Calabash Trust for over 10 years to support underprivileged communities in the Port Elizabeth area.

Programmes have included an artist’s community workshop, improved school facilities and infrastructure as well as providing an effective mechanism for channeling donations from Saga guests and volunteers.

Most recently, the Trust has funded a two year IT Programme to increase capacity for teaching IT within a cluster of six schools. The challenge was to educate the teachers - many of whom have no computer experience - as well as the pupils, to ensure sustainability and enable IT to become fully integrated into the school curriculum.

While the level of success varied from school to school, it introduced over 4,000 primary school children and teachers to the basics of computer literacy as well as providing employment to six tutors.

A study is currently being undertaken by Calabash to evaluate the sustainability of the programme and to see if further intervention is appropriate. 

www.calabashtrust.co.za