“When I first joined REAP, they told me it is a special organisation. I still believe that to this day.”
These were the closing remarks of Director Russell Davies as the Rural Education Access Programme closed off on a very auspicious National Team Week.
This year was different for more than one reason. It was the first year that REAP’s staff complement far exceeded previous years. We had staff members celebrating more than a decade with the organisation, while one of them had joined just days before.
Through a new donor partnership in the Northern Cape, REAP is able to extend its reach with these added resources.
It was also the first National Team Week with our new Deputy Director Evodia Mohoanyane, who joined the rural education organisation at the start of the year.
Since REAP started, the annual tradition of meeting up as a team in one centralised location
has created the perfect environment to regroup and think about the future. From strategic planning for the next 12 months to understanding ourselves through an Enneagram team-building exercise and discussing the impact of AI in the work that we do, to name a few, it was a week filled with reflection, learning and forward-thinking conversations.
As one staff member noted, “We improve ourselves so that we can contribute to the improvement of the people and communities that we work within.”
“The love within the organisation is visible,” a new member mentioned.
While a former-student-turned-employee remarked on how he was once guided by his student development advisor who has since become his colleague.
The week ended on a high with REAP’s 25th Anniversary celebrations. Follow along for more news on this.
We look forward to the next year with our wonderful team who give our work meaning and tirelessly contribute to the impact we are making.
