Penguin Tutoring Blog

As the days warm up and holidays are around the corner, a great day out can be spent in the sun seeing and learning about penguins at Boulders in Cape Town. Each year, as part of our corporate social investment drive, we sponsor the rehabilitation of an injured or marooned penguin. Being in our sixth year, we’ve adopted five penguins, namely Patrick, Petunia, Percival, Pippa and Pablo. Have you got any suggestions on the name of the next one?

Read an extract from a recent travel24 post about boulders below:

If you’re a fan of the cute and cuddly tuxedo-wearing birds that fly through water, instead air, Simonstown’s Boulders beach is a must-visit destination. First established in 1986 when a pair of perky African Penguins came across this cosy stretch of coast and decided to settle there, the colony has grown substantially and is now home to about 2100 breeding pairs and their fluffy babies.

A well-maintained boardwalk takes you right along their burrowed nests, hidden among the lush indigenous undergrowth and a variety of viewing points look out over their hunting grounds and the white beach where nurseries of chicks await their parents and their food.

But, even though it may look like the penguin colony is bursting at the seems, the numbers tell a different story, as 2100 breeding pairs is a sad site, compared to the 4500 of five years ago. And the worst part is that this reflects the figures of South Africa’s penguin population at large, as the 36 000 breeding pairs spread across the 26 different colonies, have dwindled to 17 000 in the past 10 years.

Reasons for this demise are uncertain, but conservationists suspect that pelagic fishing is at the heart of it. The Treasure oil spill in 2000 also may have interfered with breeding seasons more drastically than expected.

So, if you haven’t seen these cuties in all their natural glory, make a big and bold inscription on your bucket list and head on over there as soon as possible!

Last night I had the pleasure and the privilege of attending a gala function at the Johannesburg City Hall. This in itself was an uplifting experience. Driving apprehensively through the darkening streets of downtown Johannesburg,  I was enthralled at the beautiful buildings in the vicinity of this magnificent old lady. The fire damaged historical Post office building is receiving attention and together with the City Hall and another newly refurbished building in close proximity, the area looks set to rival the smartest addresses in any European city for class and architectural excellence.

The event, hosted by Murray and Roberts, was to announce the winners of their annual Jack Cheetham award. This year’s winner was the Tiger Titans Cricket Club in the Eastern Cape. The club was started in 2007 by a 14 year old schoolboy in Bathurst, Ross McCreath. His aim was to give the boys from the impoverished Nolukanye township something to do during the holidays.In a very short time, Ross and the enthusiastic group of boys had restored the derelict cricket field and started practicing. The under 14 Tiger Titans team took on Ross’s school team, St Andrews College,reaching the winning target with seven wickets in hand and disposing of Ross for a duck! Today, a squad of 50 young boys between 9 and 19 make up three formidable teams and 35 of the players are enrolled in the President’s Award Programme.

Ross is a 17 year old schoolboy. He works with passion, energy and drive to improve the lives of so many young people in his community. He has received awards in South Africa and overseas and was invited by HRH Prince Phillip to be the keynote speaker at a gala dinner at Lords Cricket Ground. He has been recognised by the Peter Cruddas foundation as one of ten International social innovators. Together with the talented coach, Mduduzi Mkalipi, and community elder, Gladman Xali, Ross McCreath is altering the future of an entire community.

Murray and Roberts, already every South African’s favourite company after their involvement in the Chilean mine rescue, is a big company - doing bigger things. With the support of business and the energy and passion of our youth, South Africa is full of promise. Imagine what you could do.

Phakama School is tucked away in a forgotten corner of the Kwena basin valley in Mpumalanga. This little school accommodates 130 primary school children from the surrounding farms. Just a year ago, Penguin Tutoring Co became aware of the constant struggle the teachers faced to deliver quality education to the children in their care. For many of the children, their only meal is provided by the school “kitchen “. Here, a big black three-legged pot is placed over a wood fire in the open area next to the school building. At break, the children line up in anticipation, and the cook ladles out steaming porridge.

Student teachers from the Wits school of education are assigned here for their practical experience bloc, and are given a taste of the plight of the rural school child and their gallant teachers. Penguin Tutoring Co has partnered with Wits and Phakama through our Corporate social initiative project (CSI)  in an effort to “give something back “  Through our sponsorship, the Wits students were able to present the school with sets of readers for every Grade, in both English and Sepedi.

Just a few short years ago, Phakama School had no roof and the ablution facilities were an open pit in the ground. Many of the children had never seen the written words in a book. But, with the vision, energy and continuous effort by many dedicated and passionate people, this is slowly changing. Today, after handing over the books, the children sang their songs of thanks, and filed into the gaily decorated classrooms, protected from the harsh sun by a sturdy roof! The youngest class lined up outside the neat ablution block before being served their porridge. The middle class concentrated hard on the sums written on the board while the “Most hardworking”, “Best in reading” and “Best in counting” proudly wore their crowns for the day.

Penguin Tutoring Co is proud to be part of that change and we will continue to channel resources into education projects aimed at improving the future of our country’s children.