State of a nation... addressed!

by Laura Collura, Principal at the School of Hope

We all want to hear some good news about our beloved nation. At the School of Hope we are playing our part in addressing one of the most important issues facing South Africa: education. While we ponder the state of our nation, there are more than 60 young people who have matriculated from the School of Hope since 2008 who would not have finished their schooling otherwise. Young girls who are mothers, boys trapped in gangsterism and drug abuse and young men desperate to complete their schooling are amongst the brave young people who have made it to Grade 12 and are now either meaningfully employed or studying further to obtain a diploma or degree.

Byronne Essack -Valedictorian 2014-
 was awarded the Denver Andreas
Scholarship with which he intends
studying sound production.

Nine more individuals joined this group of successful learners who overcame all the odds stacked against them to complete the National Senior Certificate in November 2014. Amongst them, Carlo Sabotker from Delft and Zubair Cader from Mitchell's Plein who made us proud by passing their national examinations and are both enrolled at False Bay College to study Electrical Engineering in 2015. Top students Yanga Mtule from Nyanga and Byronne Essack from Belhar are pursuing their passion for music before settling into their future studies. They have produced two original music videos in the process of chasing their musical dreams. They join the alumni who grace the halls of Stellenbosch University, those studying through UNISA - and those who are working on their career.


Zubair Cader will be studying at
False Bay College from May2015.

This year, 130 learners have made the all-important decision to enroll and are aiming to complete their education in spite of the challenges that have made it difficult for them to do so. This is a record enrollment and includes sixteen Grade 12 students. Indeed, this is good news for our city, which boasts some of the best schools in the country but is also plagued with unacceptable high school drop-out rates.

With 96 applicants already on the waiting list for 2016, it is clear that many children, youth and their parents are anxious for a chance to be part of the solution. We are privileged to be making a difference in this city, bringing hope to those who need it the most.

Meet Destino Nzonzidi, a Man with a Destiny

My first time visiting School of Hope after I arrived in South Africa, I had the privilege of meeting a remarkable young man by the name of Destino Nzonzidi from the Democratic Republic of the Congo.  I was blown away by how he overcame the odds stacked against him.

 

This is Destino’s Story

My name is Destino Nzonzidi.  I came to South Africa from DRC (Democratic Republic of the Congo) in 2008.  I was playing for the national soccer team in Zambia in grade 12.  We lost games in a tournament and couldn’t go home because the fans were waiting to beat us when I arrived.  We feared for our lives.

My aunt told me I needed to go back to school, so I decided to do that instead of pursuing a professional soccer career in South Africa.  I tried looking at alternative schools to finish my education starting at grade twelve and was placed in grade eight because my first language is French and I couldn’t speak English very well.

When I started at grade eight in 2009, I failed.  I tried again in 2010 and failed once again.  Someone suggested I go to English school.  I did that for two months and when I finished, I came to School of Hope in 2011 and they enrolled me in grade eleven!

I am a Christian and have always been one, even in DR Congo.  In addition to the teaching, we have devotions every morning at School of Hope and it helps me know how to deal with the day-to-day problems that come my way and remind me of who I am as a person.

Is there a particular person that went out of their way for you at School of Hope?

One person that greatly influenced me was a School of Hope volunteer from England, Andy Lee, who also spoke French.  He helped me when I had difficulty understanding English and would translate for me.  My marks improved and even though I’d failed grade eight in another school, I was able to pass grade eleven with Andy’s tutelage.

What do you plan to do after you graduate?

From here, I am pursuing a degree for three years and after that I am willing to do my master and doctoral in Philosophy, Politics and Economics (PPE) and at same time continue to run the political program I am running now.

What do you see yourself doing in the future?

I see myself in the senate and as the future president of DR Congo, fighting for equality, peace and love for the whole continent of Africa:

- Equality for all of Africa in economical, politics and social classes, whichever race you are.

- Peace for all of Africa, and to let the whole world know that Africa is the home of war.

- And to love one other as Africans, love our visitors, love our nations.

Additionally, I see myself participating in organisations helping youth, like people have helped me.

What is the one thing that School of Hope did for you that stands out most?

They gave me knowledge.  I lost hope that I would graduate, but School of Hope gave me hope and I started believing in myself.  No matter what I am going through now and however big my goals are, I am able to achieve them.

February News

Matric mom, 19, gets an A for perseverance!
This article appeared in two local papers in January 2013, following the announcement of the matric results.
Words by Tanya Petersen.

Fatimah Santon, 19, is proof that even when odds are stacked against you, anything is possible - even passing matric while taking care of your young child.

At 15, Fatimah, from Portland in Mitchell's Plain, fell pregnant during her Grade 10 year at Spine Road High School. At the time she felt it best to leave school.
Feeling despondent and with a baby on the way, Fatimah decided she had to go back to school. However, getting back into a mainstream school while being a mother was a bit tricky, she said. But she plucked up the courage and contacted the School of Hope in Bridgetown, which cares for children who struggle to continue their schooling at mainstream schools due to various circumstances.

In 2010, on January 18th, Fatimah started Grade 10 at the School of Hope. ‘A'ishah, my baby, was only two weeks old when I went back to school,’ she said. However, in spite of having the responsibility of being a mother and having to do well at school, Fatimah stepped up to both challenges. Now, two years later, Fatimah is a matriculant boasting excellent results, including three A's. During the two years that Fatimah attended School of Hope, she has been the top achiever every year. Her results have been so impressive that she managed to secure a full bursary to study a BA in Humanities at Stellenbosch University. A very excited Fatimah told the Athlone News that she had never expected to achieve so much in spite of the odds being against her. She attributes her success to her parents, her daughter and the staff at the School of Hope. ‘The school places special attention on each pupil,’ she said, adding that the ‘special attention’ has a positive impact on all the pupils and it boosts confidence - which makes them feel as if they can achieve anything they set out to achieve. ‘Before I came to the School of Hope I was very insecure. I was also not open with my parents. Here you are someone. The teachers care here and it helps with confidence. At the School of Hope you are not just a number. When you are sad, they ask what is wrong.’

Fatimah's secret to success is balance. ‘When I am at home, I am a mother. I don't bring school work home with me.’ She explained that she tried to complete all her school work at school and when she was able to she would stay after school to study. But the extra classes that the school offered on the weekends also helped her tremendously, she said. But, she added, she would not have been able to achieve everything without the help of her parents. ‘When I needed to be at school, they looked after my daughter.’ Her parents, Jamill and Camilla Santon, both agree that they are very proud of Fatimah. Fatimah says her daughter has been her motivation. In spite of falling pregnant at 15, she had a choice to make a success of her life or not - she chose to make a way to become successful. ‘There is always a way,’ she says. Her advice to people is to never give up. ‘Things that happen in your life can be overpowering, but you shouldn't stay focused on what you did - you need to see that it happened and move past it.’

April News

Our Swedish Connection…

In March we added to our school family eight delightful people from a school in Kumla, Sweden. They arrived tired after the 26 hour flight, but excited to experience life in Africa. Nothing had prepared them for the sheer beauty of our shores, the sunshine and the warmth of our people. They did as much as we were able to fit in their itinerary: Table Mountain, Camps Bay, Boulders and Blouberg beaches, District Six Museum and the V&A Waterfront. However, they surprised us by claiming that meeting the courageous and friendly learners at the School of Hope was the highlight of their trip. Indeed, their learners and ours immediately hit it off they became part of our school life just as if they had always been part of it. They even complimented us on the food and took notes in class! It was difficult to say goodbye when they finally left to return to Sweden.

However, it won't be long before some of us are reunited ... in Sweden! Six of our learners and two of our teachers will be leaving for Sweden as part of the exchange on the 4th May and returning on the 16th May. The learners will be staying with host families in Sweden and will be part of school life in Kumla, a small town in Sweden. The exchange is funded in part by the Swedish Government, and partly by the fundraising efforts of the teachers, learners and parents of the School of Hope.

Five Star Treatment for the amazing Matric Class of 2012!...

Ayanda Tini (Good Hope FM) and DJ's Lloyd and Lyle joined us in celebrating our amazing matrics at the 2012 Matric Dance. Held at the magical Tuscany Villas, every guest was a VIP! A special thank you to Angela Van Der Burgt from Wings Of Support who changed her flight schedule to be able to be here for the night to do the girls' make-up.

December News

Kirsten and her mom, Jeanette, at her matric dance in April this year

Kirsten Cupido (20) dropped out of school in 2008 and spent the year at home, despondent. “I started to believe the lie that I was not good enough,” said Kirsten. She joined the School of Hope in 2009 as a quiet and timid Grade 10 learner. She surprised us in the middle of the year, when she ran for school Captain. In spite of making an outstanding speech, she lost to the charismatic Manhino Dias (matriculated 2010). Nonetheless, she ran again in 2010 and, yet again, lost to another outstanding leader, Fatimah Santon (Grade 11). Nonetheless, she continued to lead in many unrecognised ways; at least they were recognised by the general school population, but those astute amongst the staff certainly noticed. In her Grade 11 year, she made a life-altering decision to end the dysfunctional relationship she was in, to concentrate on securing a better future for herself. It was a decision that would change her life.Since then, she has shown consistency in her academics and has been a positive influence on her peers from Grade 10 till this day. In her words: “I never saw myself as the leader type, but my peers often commented on my good decision making.”

Kirsten is very enthusiastic about the prospect of studying further in the field of hospitality. At the Awards Evening she was named 2011 School of Hope Valedictorian. She is also the first recipient of the “Denver Andreas Award.” Denver Andreas was the founding principal of the School of Hope and served as such until 2003. In 2004, he was tragically killed in a motorcar accident, alongside his beloved wife, Rene. He was a champion of youth-at-risk and vulnerable children. It was difficult to know Denver and not be inspired by him. With this in mind, the Thembalitsha Foundation will make available R20 000 in Denver’s honour towards the study fees of each year’s Valedictorian.

Kirsten’s mom, Jeanette Cupido, wrote the following after the Awards Evening:

“When Kirsten joined School of Hope in 2009, we were pleased as we needed her to complete her school career. Little did we know that she would achieve such phenomenal results, and because of this we enrolled her brother, Kyle, a year later. Our children have not been happier or more eager to go to school.

The awards evening was spectacular (as it is every year).  Not only are the students awarded for good grades but also for their dress, attendance, leadership skills and perseverance. I particularly like the fact that the post matriculant’s progress is followed by the school, long after they leave. All through the Awards evening there was a general feeling of belonging and closeness, which I feel is evident in the good grades that most of your students achieve. It was also very interesting to see what has been achieved throughout the year and also the different activities that took place.

 Once again, thank you for awarding Kirsten the Valedictorian for 2011 and the bursary, which could not have come at a better time. I am sure I speak for all your students and parents when I say.....A BIG  THANK YOU to the Principal and staff for their dedication, patience and sacrifice to see our children complete their school careers.”

Amanda Nortjie, Thembalitsha’s fundraiser, was a special guest at our Awards Evening. Amanda said:

“I have been to a few graduations in my time, four to be exact, but what was it that made this one stand out most for me? Knowing the backgrounds of most of these learners, one knows the challenges and the hurdles that they overcome. There is a tangible bond between the learners as well as one between the learners and their Educators. Differences are embraced, hurdles overcome and a genuine celebration of work is experienced. The exuberance and celebration that took part in that hall that night ….if only one could bottle that and sell it! (As a fundraiser I think of any opportunity!) Last but not least, God is in that place in each and every heart, sowing a seed through the work of this school and the honoring of His children, both learners and educators. The best way to end off any graduation is with the school song. This school has the best school song I have ever heard (including my own). This particular night saw it being sung with extra gusto and to stand amongst those learners singing it, was a privilege. Laura and her staff are to be commended for the level of sincerity and the magic felt on that night. The learners are to be commended for being overcomers and achievers. What a fantastic celebration!”

Congratulations Kirsten and all the amazing Matrics of 2011. You inspire us to persevere.