Reports show success in MOT school programme
MOT South Africa hosted the MOT Schools Impact Report, unveiling the effective results of their collaborative project with Rotary International, known as the MOT Courage to Care Global Project, at Inyathelo, in Woodstock, on Thursday April 18.
The research was conducted by SPHER3 NPC, which highlighted the transformative effects of the MOT programme in Cape Flats schools.
The Courage to Care Global Project, initiated in 2020, is a collaborative effort involving the Rotary Club of Wynberg, Haugaland Upper Secondary School, Karmøy Rotary Club, Rotary District 9350, and the Rotary Foundation.
MOT SA was identified as an implementing partner and training service provider, addressing the specific needs of the Grassy Park community, including Fairmount High School, Zeekoevlei High School, and Lotus High School.
The project aimed to create safe schools and local environments where youth can grow and develop in peace and harmony, learning self-acceptance and self-respect. Key shared goals of the project include: developing resilient youth, empowering educators and community leaders and cultivating a culture of respect and ubuntu (humanity).
MOT (meaning courage), initiated in 2008, empowers youth with life skills and resilience, enabling them to make conscious choices and become positive role models in their communities. Through the programme, youth are equipped with self-awareness, courage, and resilience to navigate life's challenges effectively.
Terrence Klassen, teacher and former principal of Fairmount High, said: “When the programme was introduced at the time when I was the principal, I felt that this will assist my learners given the personal, family, and community challenges many of them face on a daily basis.
“How do we assist them in overcoming their obstacles and achieve their dreams? This programme gave them the skills to deal with it, overcome and excel. Their attendance, behaviour and school work improved.”
Ms Klassen said the pupils gave their cooperation, and even initiated projects like ensuring that the library was taken care of, started and helped in the food garden, even assisting primary school pupils with reading skills.
“We are continuing with the programme as we know that it makes a real difference in our children's lives. Parents have commented and seen the changes in their children too,” said Mr Klassen.
Dylon Tommy, principal of Gardens Commercial High School, in the city centre, said: “For the first time we had a huge success rate of 95% of all of our Grade 9 learners passing mathematics in term 1.
“We’ve seen improvements in the behaviour of the Grade 8 to Grade 10 learners who are in the programme compared to previous years. We have also seen improvements in our academic results in these grades. The MOT programme teaches learners skills to be more confident and assertive in order to say no to the many negative distractions. This contributes to a better attitude towards school and their future.”
Mr Tommy said, they currently have 10 active coaches. “There will be 10 additional coaches trained in June. These coaches will run the programme with our current Grade 8 learners and next year with the new Grade 8 learners.”
“The latest research results, alongside previous achievements, affirm the impact that the MOT programmes has on our youth", said Viola Manuel, MOT SA country director.
“The success is a reflection of the collective efforts of our partners, stakeholders, funders and not forgetting our MOT coaches and principals. Their support and collaboration have been instrumental in achieving these commendable outcomes.”
Ms Manuel said schools are facing many challenges and one of the challenges is discipline. “It is encouraged to get teenagers to work together in changing the culture more and if there is discipline the learners do better academically and it will be changing their attitude towards their school and learning.”
Ms Manuel said the MOT programme has a holistic approach that involves the teacher, parent and child. “The programme includes building mental health. For example, a single parent will find it difficult to build mental resilience and to navigate a child from adolescent to adult. We help them build the bridge between adolescence and adulthood.”
Ms Manuel said the feedback results reveal from the coaches’ perspective that there was an increase in quality of 78% in their professional lives and 74% had been implemented into their personal lives. She said100% of coaches said they had learnt more about themselves and 96% said they have seen growth in their lives.
For more information about the MOT, the MOT programme and its results, visit, www.mot.org.za You can also follow MOT SA on their social media platforms for updates and insights.