The Simunye (We are One) Indaba, an unparalleled gathering of education visionaries, recently took place at the Twelve Apostles Hotel. The gathering saw the participation of 50 principals and educational leaders representing schools and institutions working across the wealth spectrum. The event aimed to create a path toward building student social capital and fostering diverse networks in a society marked by economic disparities.
Initiated in 2020, the Simunye project is a groundbreaking collaboration between the Julius Baer Wealth Inequality initiative and five schools in Cape Town, including Christel House SA, Die Duine Primary, Rondebosch Boys Preparatory, Mzamomtsha Primary, and St Cyprians Girls School.
The Simunye Indaba is the pinnacle of the project and welcomed participation from additional schools across the region, promoting collaboration and sharing innovative solutions to empower students in navigating diverse societal landscapes.
Circuit Manager at the Western Cape Education Department, Thandi Japhta who attended the event said, “I believe in the Simunye project and its’ impact. I had the opportunity to interview some of the students who have participated in the project and I was blown away by their responses and passion for the project. I hope to see the project expand to the rest of the country.”
The Simunye project forms part of a global partnership called the Wealth Inequality Initiative (WII) by the Julius Baer Foundation, which sheds light on the global challenge of wealth and education inequality.