THARA THOMAS KALLUNGAL – DIRECTOR

The leadership position of any organization faces huge challenges as it tries to bring together sometimes disparate values, philosophy and understanding under the same roof. To harness the multitude of variables and to channel that complex energy for a common cause is the opportunity.

With more than 22 years of teaching in South African schools, the unique experience of initiating and growing the SHAWCO’s (University of Cape Town) Academic Interventions Unit and as the overall Operations Manager and Interim Director of SHAWCO at the University of Cape Town, Thara brings unique insights and expertise as the Director of SHINE ADACEMIA. Thara started her career as an educator at a high school in Limpopo, and then worked as the Head of Department and Vice Principal in Cape Town.  She joined SHAWCO in 2009 and was at the helm of the Academic Interventions Unit which provides curriculum support to high school learners. 

Thara is a practicing Christian and an ardent believer that every life is precious, and God given, and that it is our duty as Christians to serve the less fortunate. As an Education Practitioner for the past 32 years, serving the community has always been Thara’s passion and furthermore she is zealous about education and upliftment.

SHAWCO has provided her with varied experiences that has equipped her with the skills to work as the Director of SHINE ACADEMIA programme. Moreover, she has realised that it is through building trust, constantly searching for consensus with the various stake holders and setting up structures that can represent different interest groups that one can effectively oversee and support the smooth running of such an organisation.

During her teaching career, she has developed teaching and learning materials and conducted many in-service workshops.  She has also worked as a senior marker and Deputy Chief Marker in Limpopo Education Department for many years. By having high level knowledge of the education system in South Africa, with a close knowledge of policy and curriculum at national and provincial levels, she has successfully managed to develop the Academic Interventions Unit of SHAWCO. As she has acquired the ability to lead and manage staff working on the programme, she is confident that she will be able to co-ordinate and provide operational oversight for academic and professional staff development within SHINE ACADEMIA.

Her project manager experience has been unique because she had to plan, implement systems and protocols, manage, and grow a programme that worked towards providing support to learners from all social class sectors to access tertiary education. She had to oversee and implement learner intake protocols, build networks over 100 schools, set up recruiting strategies, employ educators of high calibre, set up data bases to collate and analyse results, handhold learners into tertiary institutions, fundraise by building a network of donors, liaise with parents and ensure financial sustainability. Her experience of working with Education Department, curriculum advisors, circuit inspectors and school principals have empowered her to contribute to the professional development of academic staff. Her project management and administration experience over the past years would equip her to carry out the responsibilities of this position efficiently.

Her experience in coordinating the work of 45 educators, 800 school learners, more than 2000 UCT student volunteers and 40 SHAWCO staff every year has been a strong learning experience. In addition, she had to liaise with parents of learners, approximately 100 partnering schools, the Schools Development Unit (SDU) of UCT, Centre for Higher Education Development (CHED) at UCT, various faculties at UCT, UCT operations units, etc. She has achieved synergy within this challenging landscape through constant communication, patience, empathy, systematic documentation, and firmness, thus ensuring that the agreed goals are met.

The Academic Interventions Unit at SHAWCO has been producing Excellent NSC/matric results. 80% of the learners who received tutoring have studied at tertiary institutions. She thus achieved her objective to facilitate the entry of learners from developing communities into tertiary institutions that were closed to them in the past. Thara launched a Social Entrepreneurship Programme at UCT which netted a surplus of about R 2. 8 million per year, through offering lessons in core academic areas such as Mathematics and Sciences to enhance the learners’ academic results and life skills to better prepare them for competing places at universities. The surplus generated from the social entrepreneurship initiative is used to fund the Saturday School programme which provides tuition for learners from under-serviced communities/schools who can’t afford to pay.

Working towards bringing about tangible change in the lives of young people is the greatest incentive she has extracted from her time working in community projects. Her understanding that education is the key to tackle poverty affords her the necessary motivation to manage such a programme. She has worked in many educational programmes with large number of young people that acted as volunteers and others who were recipients of services. Community engagement, growth and development encompass her lifelong commitment and passion.

When promoted as Operations Manager of SHAWCO, she was exposed to managing all aspects of the organisation, including Finance Management, developing, and managing the programme budget and oversight of funds, Human Resources Management, managing conflict situations, foreseeing challenges, and constantly working towards efficiency. As she was the link between the Director and all operations, briefing the Director about opportunities and possible challenges was part of her responsibility. She has worked with more than 2000 UCT student volunteers and provided overall strategic leadership and direction to the student executive committee/student leadership in the execution of their roles. She had to prepare annual, monthly, and other evaluation reports and manage administration.

The Interim Director position at SHAWCO has given her the opportunity to serve on the Board of Directors of SHAWCO which taught her how to build long term vision, mission, and strategies for implementation. Sound stakeholder relations are also the key to effective strategizing and planning. This conviction affords her the necessary motivation to manage the varying levels of stakeholders and situations that the SHINE ACADEMIA engages with.

Thara is a highly motivated individual, who is hardworking, committed, and loyal to the programme. She maintains high ethical standards, works with integrity, and execute high quality work in a meticulous manner to meet targets. Thara’s proven leadership skills, managerial skills, administrative skills, integrity, strong moral character, accountability and being unwavering in her goal to achieve excellence, exceedingly equip her to navigate the complex landscape of this position i.e., to head the SHINE ACADEMIA programme.

Thara holds a Bachelor of Science Degree from Mahatma Gandhi University in India, a Master’s degree from Associate of the College of Preceptors London, a diploma in Science Education through the Department of Education and a Higher Education Postgraduate Diploma from UNISA. 

Thara believes the success of any organization is firmly grounded in its ability to effectively manage varied stakeholder relationships. Only through well-founded, decisive, and dynamic leadership can such a position thrive. As she has an eye for efficiency, innovation, and financial sustainability, she takes a holistic view of any activity that she engages with.

She found it very rewarding to be an influencer in the destiny of our youth. Her passion in life is teaching and raising a good generation. She has a love of children and learning, coupled with a desire to make the world a better place.

Contact Details:
Cell: (+27) 72 257 3925
E: thara.tom@gmail.com
Address: SHINE ACADEMIA, GROOTE SCHUUR HIGH SCHOOL,
76 PALMYRA ROAD, NEWLANDS, CAPE TOWN.

WARREN AFRICA – OFFICE ADMINISTRATOR

Warren Africa is an honest and hardworking individual, who gives 100% in every part and aspect of his life. He is a true believer in living his core values of Integrity, honesty and respect. He also believes that those values will always open doors in his life and create possibilities of growth and opportunities. He believes that doing the right thing is more important, than doing things right.

Warren has over a decade of experience in Admin Management, which has added a lot of value to the SHINE ACADEMIA programme, by adding new initiatives, processes to streamline and improve the quality of the programme continuously. Certification in Business, Financial & Human Resource Management, will further add to improving the quality of service rendered to learners. The courses and training he has attended in various fields have developed his skills in problem solving, planning, organizing, decision making, communication & project management.

Working at SHAWCO Academic Interventions Unit (AIU) for 2 years, administering and coordinating the SHAWCO SHINE programme of over 250 learners. AIU experience has been unique as Warren had to oversee and implement learner intake protocols, build networks over 30 schools, set up recruiting strategies, collate data bases, analyse academic results, liaise with parents, learners etc.

He built networks with multiple schools across the Western Cape and made strong professional relationships with colleagues and teachers. His proven Management & administrative skills, strong moral character, accountability and being unwavering in his goal to achieve excellence, exceedingly equipped to coordinate logistics of the programme.

Warren has become a valuable member of our community and he is well liked and respected by our stakeholders due to his pleasant personality, welcoming nature, and respectful attitude.

Warren works as an Office Administrator which has taught him how to build long term vision, mission, and strategies for implementation.

Contact Details:
Cell: (+27) 60 327 1265 (Office/WhatsApp)
E: shine.academia2020@gmail.com
Address: SHINE ACADEMIA, GROOTE SCHUUR HIGH SCHOOL,
76 PALMYRA ROAD, NEWLANDS, CAPE TOWN.

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