There is no lease car for South African Fuga member 

No, that's not part of the package for the education coordinator of the South African FUGA project. What in many Western European countries is considered to be a standard part of the employment package offered by almost every employer is only a dream for Magrieta Schalk, even though she travels thousands of kilometres for her work on difficult, barely passable roads in the western area of South Africa. Up till now her own 15 year-old Toyota has loyally served her, but the end is in sight. There will have to be a new car; however, there is no money for it.

Magrieta Schalk is the director of FUGA (Functional Literacy Action), a project established in 1995, that provides education to the plaaswerkers (farm labourers), in the western coastal area of South Africa. The labourers with their citrus, rooibos (red bush) and wine industry are the economic backbone of an area of about 4,000 km2, still they are among the poorest and most isolated groups in South Africa. They have never learned to read or write, simply because there were no schools for them. 
When school attendance became mandatory for all South Africans, a school bus system was set up to transport the 'coloured' and black children living on farms to the schools. For the parents and grown children, there is nothing. 

Over the past 9 years, FUGA has organised many classes and now has more than 130 students. First offered during the evening, so that daytime work could continue undisturbed, later it also came to be offered during the day. The pupils vary in age from 18 to 80. 
What is unique about the classes FUGA offers is that they are given on the plaas itself. Local conditions make it impossible for the plaas dwellers to go to a village centre for lessons, because distances vary from 5 to 50 km and must be travelled on foot. So the teachers go to the plaas. In addition to offering training for the teachers, FUGA also provides them with transport to and from the plaas.

Despite the fact that FUGA has been recognized by the department of education (WKOD) since 1997 and a small sum is available for each teacher, Magrieta Schalk must arrange and pay for her transport herself. If the project is to run smoothly, the 10 classes must be visited regularly. This is necessary to provide support, motivation, stimulation and supervision, but also for her to teach herself if an instructor becomes unavailable. Small excursions for the instructors and the attending of meetings (of the department of education) in the region and/or Kaapstad require travelling great distances, and a car is indispensable. To give an idea of the distances involved, the area that must be crisscrossed is twice as large as Switzerland and has difficult or barely passable roads full of holes, mud and stones. 

A new car is expensive, but there are a number of Dutch donors who initially helped set up FUGA that are willing to contribute to the cost. 5000 Euros is still needed. 


50% has been contributed to this project by an anonymous foundation and 50% by the general fund of moments of joy 

Total € 5000,-- 

More realized projects