The school is open to 23 learners from across the Western Cape who were part of the Foundation for Empowerment through Afrikaans’ (SBA) Future Project for four years. Fortunately, these young people were not sent empty-handed into an unknown world.
During the school holidays in December, the learners attended a workshop for three days. The workshop was the last workshop of a four-year mentorship run by the SBA’s Gerswin Cupido.
According to Cupido, the goal of the project was to support self-motivated students, who show leadership potential.
“We wanted to help them break the cycle of poverty,” says Cupido.
Read more here: https://www.netwerk24.com/netwerk24/nuus/aktueel/projek-help-leerlinge-om-toekoms-aan-te-gryp-20211217
The Future Project spanned four years. The young people were selected as Grade 9 learners from, among others, Vredendal Secondary, Nuwerus High School, Cederberg Academy (Citrusdal), Jan Kriel School (Kuils River) and Thembalethu Secondary in George.
Cupido says the program model is built on mentoring and mentoring learners from Gr. 9 to gr. 12 to give. During this period, the SBA helped the learners to follow the right subject choices, fields of study and career choices.
However, for those who did not immediately want to pursue a field of study, the workshop was ideal.
All the learners attended the workshop where they had several classes. During the classes, they were equipped with skills to write CVs and cover letters and were also trained in entrepreneurship, financial literacy and communication skills.
Read here about what the learners had to say. https://www.son.co.za/Nuus/Kaapsenuus/23-leerders-in-regte-rretning-20211220
The high note on which 2021 ended for the learners is the starting point for the SBA’s new projects.
This year, the SBA is busy with various projects in the Northern Cape. The Zoë reading project, which has been presented in the Western Cape since 2011, is one of the year’s first projects.
The reading project was extended to areas in the Northern Cape last year. With the National Lottery Commission’s solid grant funding of R385 301, this project is now being extended to even more schools in the Northern Cape.
Nelmari Kemp, manager of the reading project, says about 70 primary schools in and around Garies, Springbok, Kakamas, Keimoes and Upington will participate in the project this year.
“The purpose of the reading project is not to replace the role of the teacher, but rather to strengthen the teacher’s hands in this important task. It is also about encouraging community involvement in our children’s education, ”says Kemp.
In addition to this project, there are also several other old and new projects that the SBA is involved in this year. Keep an eye on sbafrikaans.co.za for exciting competitions.
Covid-19 has kicked off numerous projects in the past and although the end of the pandemic is not yet in sight, the SBA is hopeful that it will have even more success with projects this year.
In the words of Prof Michael le Cordeur, Head of Curriculum Studies at Stellenbosch University and Vice-Chair of the SBA: “ May the lessons learned last year provide solutions to this year’s challenges.”
The SBA wishes you all the best with the new year.
