On the outskirts of Stanford lies a low-cost housing project called Hopland.  Life in Hopland looks very different from what the majority of us have the privilege to call home. Signs of poverty are everywhere.

 

Unemployment, crime, drug and alcohol abuse, as well as access to health and education services, are major concerns. Due to these socio-economic circumstances, far too many of the children in these impoverished areas drop out of the school system at an early age. 

 

Hoopland Academy opened its doors in 2016. It provides primary education, catering for grades RR to seven. Hopeland delivers quality education to 70 learners. The Academy offers small class sizes where each learner is able to benefit from personal attention from the dedicated teaching staff as well as a minibus to transport the children safely over a busy road, to and from school each day. The Academy also provides a healthy lunch to each of the learners, homework help, learner support and various other beneficial programmes. 

 

This is a walk of faith regarding the future of some of the most precious youngsters in our town and we are trusting we can equip them with an essential set of skills to cope with and deliver them from the dangerous and negative circumstances in which many of them live.