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As we reflect on 2023, we cannot help but feel an overwhelming sense of pride and gratitude. It has been a year of triumphs and growth that has impacted our VUSA community. Our rugby season has been nothing short of fantastic, filled with hard-fought victories and lesson-learning losses; seeing our young athletes give their all on the field has been wonderful. Equally inspiring is the improvement in attendance for academic days, accompanied by a commendable rise in academic performance, particularly on the Atlas Digibus. Grade 5s have been really enthusiastic about the coding program and we're excited to announce its integration into the afterschool program in 2024. The Rugby World Cup was a highlight for our VUSA children, uniting them in the excitement of the matches and inspiring dreams beyond the playing field. Watching the trophy tour through Langa brought the victory closer to home, reinforcing the belief that dreams can become a reality, for those from similar backgrounds. Leading into the Rugby World Cup, Bath University and Mastercard embarked on a study on ‘the Future of Rugby’. VUSA participated as a case study in this research project. Please view the full report below (the VUSA case study is on page 44). To view please CLICK HERE. As we wrap up this year, we extend our deepest gratitude to every VUSA donor, volunteer, friend, and partner. Your unwavering support has been the cornerstone of our success, creating meaningful opportunities and profoundly shaping the lives of our children. In addition to our heartfelt thanks, we want to shine a spotlight on three remarkable young boys from the Bishops Prep School, embodying the spirit of selflessness and community engagement. Tom Pearce, who organised a shoe drive for our VUSA children, Nicholas Turck, who donated his pocket money to host our children at Bishops, complete with boerie rolls and playdough sets for our ECD children and Charles Traill, who set up a slushie stand and catered for 230 children at last week's Christmas party. These young leaders inspire us all and demonstrate the profound difference that kindness and generosity can make in our community. Thank you for being the change-makers we so desperately need in our country. In this newsletter we have included a few highlights of the last few months. We also invite you to peruse our annual report, which showcases the impact of our programs. As the year ends, we wish you and your families a safe and wonderful holiday season filled with joy and laughter. We wish you everyting of the best for 2024. Thank you again for your generosity and support. Kind regards Brendan, Nikki, Lebo, Mak & the VUSA Team.
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