Background

Suhail launched the Hand2Hand foundation in 2007 with the mission to ‘turn lives around’ for ‘at risk’ youth between the ages of 16 – 26. Although the Hand2Hand programmes are hugely successful Suhail wanted to reach children at an earlier age, developing Intelligence and values early.

Intelligence + Values is an approach that nourishes, and enables learners to flourish, making a difference to the world through who and how they are.

When we actively engage with values we start to understand their implications for making choices about our attitudes and responses. A Values-based approach encourages reflective and aspirational attributes and attitudes. These can be nurtured to help children discover the very best of themselves, which enables them to be good community citizens and prepare them for the life of work.

Intelligence + Values creates a better learning environment, in which students are able to attain better academic results. It creates a better teaching environment, in which staff are more fulfilled and significantly less stressed. It equips students with social capacities that help them work with, and relate to others effectively. It provides them with the self-esteem and confidence to explore and develop their full potential. It leaves no student behind, irrespective of his or her background.

In a society as advanced as ours, it is unacceptable that the odds are stacked against a child simply because they come from a disadvantaged environment.

Can we break the cycle of generational poverty and unlock true potential? Yes, but only by starting early and stressing the importance of character enrichment and empowerment through education. Our learning concepts ensure all children receive the same learning opportunities. They’ll also encourage parenting approaches that focus on a child’s individual need and develop belief, self-confidence and ambition.

Poverty often sets in motion a deepening spiral of social exclusion, creating problems in education, employment, mental and physical health and social interaction. Nearly half of all children from families below the poverty line fail to achieve the minimum personal development and education level required by most employers and businesses.