Congratulations class of 2019
School can be very challenging for many of our beneficiaries. This can caused by their traumatic backgrounds. It wasn’t easy but they made it. The class of 2019 made us proud with their school grades. Our houseparents are proud to share that they’ve seen great academic improvement in our children. With the support from tutors, teachers, volunteers, schools and houseparents, our children were able to unlock their academic potential.
Grade 12, for a child in our care, can be very daunting and thoughts of uncertainty can creep in because they are not sure what will happen to them after matric. Nonetheless, they soldier on and do their best. We were surprised with some distinctions and admissions for university and diploma studies. Today a number of our matriculants are preparing to go to university, college, a skills centre; others have secured internships and are part of training programmes. One such beneficiary is Eugenia*.
Eugenia just passed her matric and now finds herself in a new home with new friends and a part of a referee training programme – a plot twist she did not see coming. This young lady has moved to a youth development home and is part of the South African Football Association (SAFA) Referees Programme. “It’s beautiful to watch this once unruly teen become this beautiful and focused young woman. Eugenia had a problem with authority and this was because she felt she could not rely on adults and felt the need to “fend” for herself and siblings”, says Social worker Sheree Coetzee. Eugenia looks forward to one day refereeing a big soccer match such as the Soweto Derby.
Like Eugenia, we have other matriculants that are going after their dreams. In a few years, we will be looking forward to attending graduation ceremonies and celebrating our children as they become chefs, engineers, teachers, hotel managers, person persons and the like.
We also want to celebrate our other beneficiaries who did well academically. Our children needed help and many hands reached out to assist. The extra classes, tutoring, volunteer and parental help made a huge difference in our children’s lives. Many went from struggling with certain subjects to achieving above and beyond the average mark.
Grade 1 pupil, Christa* from the Bermuda satellite home, was struggling with her reading and writing. But, after attending afternoon classes, her reading has improved and she can now read faster. Bella, Nia and Gerda* from our Benoni satellite home, were all struggling with Mathematics Literacy and Mathematics. Their marks were way below 50% but with the help of their housefather, Pierre Jacobs, the girls’ marks improved significantly and they plan to do better this year.
Thank you to the tutors, teachers, volunteers and parents that supported our children academically last year. The difference made by your involvement is immense and appreciated.
Class 2020 awaits! Among them, pupils who are embarking on a new and exciting journey. For some it’s the beginning or a new chapter of their school career and for others, it’s the beginning of their prospects for the future.
*Not their real names
Gelukwensingsklas van 2019
Skool en akademie is ‘n reuse uitdaging vir die meeste van ons kinders. Dit word deur verskeie faktore veroorsaak, onder andere, trauma. Al was dit nie maklik vir die kinders nie, het die Klas van 2019 se uitslae ons trots gemaak. Ons kinderversorgers het trots laat weet dat akademie in die algemeen besig is om te verbeter. Dit is die gevolg van harde werk van onderwysers, skole, vrywilligers, tutors, die kinders en die kinderversorgers.
Graad12 kinders in kindersorgprogramme ondervind vrees en onsekerheid oor die toekoms buite die veiligheid van die kindersorgprogramme. Die vrees om die nes te verlaat laat hulle worstel deur akademie en emosies. Dog is ons verras met ‘n paar onderskeidings en toelatings vir universiteit en diploma studies. ‘n Paar matrikulante sal eersdaags ‘n nuwe lewe begin by: universiteit, kolleges, ‘n vaardigheidsontwikkelingsentrum, ‘n internskap en opleidingsprogramme. Soos Eugenia*:
Eugenia, suksesvolle matrikulant woon tans in ‘n nuwe huis, nuwe stad en met hope nuwe vriende. Hulle is almal deel van die Suid-Afrikaanse Sokker Assosiasie se skeidsregtersprogram. Die maatskaplike werker, Sheree Coetzee sê: Dis wonderlik om hierdie weerbarstige tiener te sien verander in ‘n pragtige, jong dame wat kan fokus en beplan. Eugenia aanvaar geen gesag nie. Sy glo dat sy nie op volwassenes kan staatmaak of hulle vertrou nie. Die rede is dat sy te gereeld moes veg vir haar eie en haar sibbe se bestaan.
Daar is nog matrikulante wat soos Eugenia hul droom gaan volg. Ons sien daarna uit om oor ‘n paar jaar gradeplegtighede te vier wanneer ons kinders, chefs, onderwysers en verpleegsters word.
Baie van ons kinders het vanjaar akademies verbeter en ons jubel saam met hulle. Ekstra klasse, vrywilligers, tutors en kinderversorgers het hard gewerk en ‘n duidelike verskil tot gevolg gehad.
Christa*, ‘n Gr1 dogter van die Bermuda satelliethuis, het gesukkel om te lees en skryf. Na ekstra lees klasse het sy baie verbeter en kan selfs bietjie vinniger lees. Bella, Nia en Gerda* van die Benoni satelliethuis het gesukkel met Wiskunde en Wiskunde Geletterdheid met punte onder 50%. Die huispa, Pierre Jacobs, het begin Wiskunde klas gee en punte het merkwaardig verbeter en die dogters wil graag nóg beter doen vanjaar
Hartlike dank aan tutors, onderwysers, vrywilligers en kinderversorgers vir jul ondersteuning. Daar is ‘n reuse verbetering en elke kind en personeellid waardeer jul betrokkenheid.
Klas 2020 is gereed! Sekere leerders onderneem nuwe en opwindende rigtings en terwyl party leerders aan die begin van ‘n skoolloopbaan is, is ander besig om hul toekoms te beplan na matriek.
*Nie hul regte name
