Seattle Prep students strive to promote the Jesuit idea of cura personalis, a Latin phrase that translates to “care for the entire person”. This concept means that each individual deserves to be entirely seen and cherished. Seattle Prep alum, Shelley Neal ‘79 has carried this belief from her Prep experience into her everyday life as founder and longtime Executive Director at a West Seattle Preschool, A Child Becomes (ACB), and through her more recent project: Reach! South Africa. Reach! is a nonprofit organization co-founded by Neal and her husband Ralph Pooler, that builds preschools in rural South Africa.

Reach! is partnered with the Institute of Training and Education for Capacity Building (ITEC). ITEC trains mothers in rural South African communities to become teachers. Without a designated school building, these mothers resorted to teaching in their own homes. Since 2019, Reach! has been building preschools annually one at a time, by purchasing and transforming shipping containers with the help of locals, volunteers, and private donations. Reach! helps to expand resources and stimulations for the kids by providing basic amenities such as water catchment and purifying systems, toilets, toiletries, and more exciting equipment including playgrounds, and school supplies along with the beautifully decorated shipping container painted by volunteers.

Prior to the creation of Reach!, Neal and Poole ventured to South Africa every year to visit Pooler’s family. These trips reminded them of the division in income levels that South Africa struggles with. Each year, after they returned, Neal and Pooler promised that they would take action; eventually leading to the creation of Reach!.

Growing up in South Africa, Pooler saw firsthand the effects of apartheid, andthe wealth gap that has not changed since it ended. South Africa was featured in Times magazine for being the most divided country in regard to equity of wealth. The article states that the top wealthiest 3,500 adults residing in South Africa, a country with a population of over 60 million, have more money than the poorest 32 million adults. This, and the racially unequal education system has held poverty- stricken South African youth back from proper preparation for well earning jobs; worsening the wealth gap.

Many children living in rural South Africa must walk miles often barefoot and hungry just to reach their school. These children in many instances receive insufficient levels of parental support at home in their early years of development leading to a lack in social and emotional skills. Early education can help students develop these skills and become comfortable in a learning environment. “By going to preschool, it gives them a much better chance of staying in school longer,” said Pooler.

Regardless of the circumstances, the children of South Africa remain eager to embark on the journey of education. “The moment we get there, there are maybe ten children then it multiplies to fifty with such a sense of joy and appreciation that it guarantees to bring tears to our eyes every year.” said Neal.

The Reach! foundation aims to build a total of nine preschools. They have currently built five and are in the process of funding a sixth. Donations can be made through their website (reachforsa.org) on the donations page. All donations go directly to the program and help bring smiles to the faces of young South African students ultimately funding a healthier future for South Africa.