Experiencing Interruptions?

MathMoms - where children come to learn

MathMoms are creating a safer space where children come to learn maths and leave having learned so much more. MathMoms help to achieve several Millennium Development Goals of the United Nations at the same time. Among others, the goal of universal primary education as well as gender equality and girls' and women's empowerment. We accompany the women on a journey of self discovery in which they get to know their own gifts and strengths so that they can take the next step into the future.

MathMoms is a women’s initiative, powered by motherly love that builds confident communities - one maths empowered child at a time.
Prof. Jonathan Jansen stated: "MathMoms for me is by far one of the most innovative programs! You can teach children mathematics, you can get unemployed mothers to learn (…), some of those mothers become teachers as well, and you bring into the community a sense of hope. If you can do this in some of the most unstable, often violent parts of our country, you can do it anywhere." Jonathan Jansen is the Professor of Education at the University of Stellenbosch. He is also President of the South African Academy of Science and President of the South African Institute of Race Relations.

  • Gerald Schank
    Director
  • Fresh.Frames Productions
    Producer
  • Thomas Peters Sunny Side Foundation
    Associate Producer
  • Jürgen Grosse Trust Fundraising
    Production Coordinator
  • Gerald Schank
    Writer
  • Jean-Francois Guyot
    Music
  • Sonja Cilliers
    Featuring
  • Zandile Nyawo
    Featuring
  • Prof. Jonathan Jansen
    Featuring
  • Breyton Paulse
    Featuring
  • Project Type:
    Documentary
  • Runtime:
    15 minutes 9 seconds
  • Completion Date:
    October 1, 2023
  • Production Budget:
    22,500 EUR
  • Country of Origin:
    Germany
  • Country of Filming:
    South Africa
  • Language:
    Afrikaans, English
  • Shooting Format:
    Digital (4K)
  • Aspect Ratio:
    1:2,35
  • Film Color:
    Color
  • First-time Filmmaker:
    No
  • Student Project:
    No
  • Digital Cinema Package:
    Unavailable
  • Filmmakers United International Film Festival
    Birmingham
    United Kingdom
    May 24, 2024
    Award Winner - Best Film on Social Issues
  • Fondazione Harambee Africa International
    Rome
    Italy
    November 19, 2024
    Winner X International Harambee Award "Conveying Africa"
Director Biography - Gerald Schank

Gerald Schank is an award winning filmmaker and director of photography with a preference for intuitive emotional visual storytelling.
After graduating in social pedagogy, he starts an apprenticeship as camera assistant and sound technician in 1986. His first work as freelance cinematographer was in 1993 a documentary on Brazilian street kids for German Television (WDR). In 1999 he founded film production company fresh.frames in Cologne.
The years to come took him to more than 50 countries for cinematographic work on films, such as the short film "Snipers Alley" (2001), or an anti-war drama, the cinema feature film "Mörderischer Frieden - Lethal Peace" (2007), filmed in Sarajevo (BiH).
The short film "Cut” (2014) received a recognition for best cinematography. And his documentary film debut "One World - The Ocean of Presence" (2019) won numerous awards at various international film festivals.

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Director Statement

A year ago I heard for the first time about the project of "MathMoms" in Cape Town from the fundraiser Jürgen Grosse. He is one of the supporters of this initiative, together with Thomas Peters from Stiftung Sonnenseite. Two "old white men" with big hearts who have made it their mission to support the MathMoms and to publicise their work for children in townships (slums). Thomas Peters financed the film project and Jürgen Grosse, together with Sonja Cilliers, the founder of "MathMoms", cleared the obstacles for filming in schools and townships. They deserve a big thank you!
What is special about this project? In simple terms, it's about tutoring at school for disadvantaged children. Behind it, however, is a systemically functioning project based on charity, equality and respect. It has the potential to "heal" entire families, to give mothers the urgently needed economic knowledge and children a chance to develop their full potential.
In their role as mathmoms, the mothers in the communities develop self-esteem and experience that they have the strength to overcome the adversities of life in the townships.
My conclusion is: The way we think about others and the way we talk to them either gives them a chance or prevents it. So in order to develop the potential of others, sometimes we have to make a big shift in perspective ourselves first.