May News

Our Swedish Connection Continued!....

Last month we told you of the exchange students we received for a visit. This month it was our turn to go to Sweden!

Six of our learners and two educators participated in a unique cultural exchange.  From the streets of the Cape Flats, learners were flown over the Baltic seas to a the country known for originating the Nobel Peace prize, and producing Volvo, ABBA , IKEA and Roxette. The learners landed in Sweden not knowing what to expect but excited for the unknown and for an experience they would never have dreamt of.

They had the opportunity to become a part of a Swedish family and experience life at school in a small town called Kumla. Our learners attended classes in arts, music, Spanish, physics, entrepreneurship, woodcraft and their favourite, sports. They played indoor soccer, squash and learnt Swedish folk dancing.
During their time in Kumla, the town flew the South African flag in their honour. They were also invited for lunch at the municipal offices. Wherever they went, they were treated like royalty. The local internet radio station featured the group and allowed one of our learners to host the show which was later broadcast in the community television news station.

Our students formed friendships with teenagers from Iraq, Pakistan, Thailand, Bosnia and Somalia. They were filled with the richness of diversity and their lives were impacted by the simple life in Kumla. They also toured the historic city of Stockholm.

Families that hosted our learners opened their homes and allowed them to experience Swedish traditions, one of them being the tradition of removing their shoes before entering a home. Our learners speak warmly of how the table was laid for dinner and how special attention was made for their packed school lunches every day. They gave our learners an opportunity to share in the love and commitment they have towards being a well functioning society.

Sweden is rich in beauty and interesting in culture but what stole the hearts of our learners is the warmth and love they received from the small town of Kumla.

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.

March News

The learners from School of Hope recently drew closer to nature in two amazing ways:

We survived an Outward Bound Camp!
At the end of February we had the opportunity to send 20 learners on the Outward Bound Camp. This is a very challenging outdoor adventure camp that stretched the limits of many of the participants. The notorious "solo" (surviving in the bush alone for a period of time) proved extremely difficult, but most of the learners survived and came back to tell the tale. In their words:

‘I had a great experience from raft building to the solo. I felt it as if I was having the best time of my life. I did all the challenges for the fun experience even though I found some of them very difficult. My backpack was heavy when I was hiking, but I went up the mountain and finished the hike.’ Shargaan Bassardien


‘It was very beautiful, I enjoyed myself and had a great experience. It was my first time doing these kinds of activities. I would like to come back and do it all again. The week was great apart from the solo - I was wet and cold.’ Ismail Moosa


‘I had a great time with Outward Bound and all the aspects of the course. I learned a lot of things from this experience, I overcame my fear of heights. I found the mountain climbing very hard, but I did it. All the activities were great, but I never want to do the solo again.’ Shirleen Hendricks


‘I had a good experience, learnt many things including how to manage my anger. I never thought I could do activities like rock climbing, abseiling and hiking up a mountain. All these things taught me how to trust my team, myself and my leaders. I also learnt about self-control and self confidence. I would like other youth to come here even though it is difficult and challenging at first, it becomes easier and you end up being proud of yourself afterwards. I would like to thank my team members for motivating me and my instructors for leading me well.’ Lizanne Martin

We also joined the Treevolution with Greenpop!
Twenty students and two teachers were part of an exciting tree planting on the premises we currently occupy. In three hours, we planted 29 trees with the outstanding facilitators from Greenpop. Their leadership was inspiring and very informative. The tree plant resonated with our values of HOPE, TRANSFORMATION, RESPONSIBILITY AND GIVING. Best of all, we did it as a FAMILY. We are committed to watering and nurturing each tree. We learned that ‘the best time to plant a tree was 20 years ago. The next best time is right now!’ Our learners are looking forward to passing by the premises in 20 years' time with their children and being able to point and say, ‘See that big old tree? I planted that one when I was in school!’

February News

Wilmona, new Afrikaans teacher

A great ending makes for a great beginning and with the wake of the victory of 2011 behind us, the path ahead has been a joy!

Three new educators joined the team this year. Nhau Mapfirakupa will teach Maths Literacy, Mathematics and Natural Science. He is as serious about maths as a teacher can be and he has brought professionalism and a no-nonsense attitude to the school family. "It is my first time in an institution like this one where there is too much love and caring for each other. Our learners are a special group and they know we are a good family at school. The danger may be with those who can take advantage of the love and care extended to them."

"Most of my learners just hate my subject, Maths, so my priority is to make them love Maths, as it is a condition to passing the subject."

Adekunle, Tourism & Technology

Adekunle Oyewo is the new Tourism and Technology teacher. There is nothing he will not do to add value to the staff team and the family of learners. He has morphed into IT Technician Extraordinaire, Soccer Coach Supreme and Magnificent Handy Man. This is what he says about the first two months: "My experience so far has been wonderful. School of Hope is not only a school but a family where anyone from any diversity can call this a home. The team spirit is great and very supportive. The learners are respectful and cooperative. The Principal has been a role model; she exhibits a wonderful open-door policy which makes her really approachable at any time."

Nhau, Maths

"The school is not just a place of work for me but a second home. Sometimes I have to remind myself that its time to lock up and go! I find the environment very conducive to learning. It has been a wonderful experience so far and I will to anything to stay at the School of Hope."

Wilmona Fortuin goes about her important work as Afrikaans teacher with elegance and grace but at the core she is as tough as nails. Her gentle nature is balanced by a desire for truth and justice. She writes, "As the Afrikaans teacher at a school where the majority of learners are English-speaking, I felt I had a challenging task ahead. Looking back on the first two months, it has been a great experience. The learners are really accepting and welcoming".

"The School is definitely more like a family; the teachers are supportive and willing to help. So I feel privileged to be part of such a dynamic and loving group of people. The school is a well-organized system in which you, whether as a learner or as a teacher, will never get lost. I am in love with the School of Hope."

Tamsyn

Tamsyn Willemse (19), who matriculated in 2011, has joined the team as a volunteer. She says: "It is great to give back to the school because the school did so much for me. I am learning a lot about administration and how to answer the phone and speak to people who make enquiries, as well as how to organize files."

The new learners all started school a week early to submit themselves to an arduous orientation during which they were forced to change their negative paradigms about school and look at the relationships, values and responsibilities at School of Hope differently to any other school they may have attended (and opted out of) in the past.

So, finally, we hear from two new learners at the school. Christolene Williams (15) who lives at Marsh Memorial Children's Home, writes, "I did not know if I was doing the right thing going to the School of Hope but as I settled in I felt like I belonged. I knew the teachers would be helpful but now I am thinking: wow! Everyone is friendly and they are like your own family. I am doing better in my school work so far and I am proud of myself."

Pholani Moyakhe (17), whose sister Bianca matriculated in 2011, had big shoes to follow but she has taken it in her stride: "I have been really happy in this school since the first day. The teachers are very kind and caring and they are open-hearted people who understand. The learners don't call each other names and many different races and cultures are represented and get on well with each other. I feel free at the School of Hope."

And so say all of us.

January News

Some of our graduates in New York earlier
in the year

The achievement of our 2011 matrics is a story of hope and perseverance against all odds. Many schools have achieved 100% passes, some with 200 or more matriculant but at the School of Hope, each of the nine learners who finally made it to Matric had been told it was impossible. Many of them had given up hope and for them this victory is sweet indeed.

For the educators and management it is a confirmation that our model works. Our admission policy does not allow us to pick the cream of applicants. We simply look for commitment to complete their education, regardless of their circumstances, aptitude for mathematics or academic potential. Every young person has the right to access to a good education, all that we require is commitment and that each learner has taken responsibility for their learning.

In an atmosphere of hope and our family-like environment, that dedication translates into success. This is why we have seen learners with learning disabilities, learners living in deep, desperate poverty, learners with babies and those with criminal records pass and leave the school as productive members of their community.

The outstanding Matric pass rate of 2011 is not the result of one person's diligence, but the leadership and dedication of a staff that simply will not give up on any young person that is part of the school family. Donors like Travelstart make it possible for us to hire the best teachers - those who are passionate about teaching and learning and who want to see every individual access the best education possible, regardless of where they come from or what they have done. Thank you, Travelstart, and all our consistent donors, for your contribution in 2011. You share in our victory!

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.

October News

The late afternoon of Tuesday 11th October was just another mild spring day in Cape Town. As a whistle blew one last time on a sports field in Maitland one group of soccer players cheered and hugged each other in victory whilst the others, exhausted and disappointed, heads bowed, had to stomach the bitter taste of defeat..............and that was us!

Unfortunately we had just lost 3-0 in the Amandla Knock Out Competition Final to the B.E.S.T Centre, a team who we had previously beaten. It was just one of those days when nothing went “our way”- we forgot our game plan which we had rehearsed and used in other games to good effect and we had been unfortunate to have several key refereeing decisions go against us. Not a good way to end the season for the School of Hope Under 19 Soccer team.
However, with the following day I was able to see the positive side of our season – we had been beaten finalists in the Knock Out Trophy but Winners of the Amandla Under 19 League Competition so we have a trophy, winners medals and runners up medals to put on display in our reception after the Awards Ceremony at Athlone Stadium!
I think we also achieved in some other ways this season. We brought a “feel good” positive vibe to the whole school as we won games and lots of people were interested to come along and support or check out our league position the following day. By the end of the season our squad was up to 18 players!
We also decided as a squad to make “team” the key focus by voting for attendance at training and effort to be the criteria for team selection and making sure all substitutes got to play for some of the game. Finally, it was great to see leadership emerge as players took turns to lead training and take on other responsibility.
Roll on next season...................c’mon you School of Hope!!!

Written by: Andy Lee, Soccer Coach 2011

(Andy Lee (UK) is volunteering for a year at the School of Hope. Andy has brought a wealth of experience and a dollop of joy to our school. As the soccer coach he has balanced discipline and encouragement, work and play, positivity and reality. His approach made us winners – even if we were beaten in the final knock-out round. With ego slightly bruised but characters intact, the team has basked in their new-found glory from bottom of the pile to top of the league! Thank you, Andy, for your dedication and care. Each footballer felt it, every learner was inspired by it, and as for the staff, you made our job so much easier!)