“Give me six hours to chop down a tree and I will spend the first four sharpening the axe.” — Abraham Lincoln.
Thuma Mina Teaching (TMT) takes this principle to heart. Their approach to teacher training is not about rushing through the process but about thoroughly equipping teachers with the right tools and methods.
Last month, TMT hosted its first teacher training in the Overberg district — home to many teachers from rural communities who are frequently underserved. TMT aimed to ensure that teachers left feeling inspired and that it was time well spent. After the session, teachers shared overwhelmingly positive feedback, with many saying they felt equipped and inspired to bring what they had learnt back to the classroom.
“Our aim is not just to tick a box but to genuinely equip and inspire. In a landscape where many training opportunities exist simply to fulfil SACE-CPTD (teacher development points) requirements, our approach is to sharpen axes, equipping every teacher with practical methods and materials that make a real impact in the classroom and ultimately, in the lives of their learners,” said Leopold van Velden, Executive Director at Thuma Mina Teaching.
Continuing their training, Thuma Mina’s mission remains to transform education by empowering learners and the teachers who guide them. “The success of our first session in the Overberg district reaffirms our belief that well-equipped teachers are the key to long-term, sustainable change in education,” Leopold continued. TMT hopes to expand their training to other regions to upskill teachers and learners in a sustainable and impactful way.
The Val de Vie Foundation proudly supports Thuma Mina Teaching, a leader in youth development and community engagement. Their work is truly inspiring.
