The Eden Park Baptist Church held an awards ceremony for current learners and one former learner to encourage and reward them for their outstanding efforts as exemplary learners.

Held on February 1 at the Eden Park Baptist Church, the awards ceremony was led by Richard Tomes, Pastor Oscar Bashing, and other senior leaders from the church.

Congregants from the church also gathered to witness the awards ceremony and to attend their weekly Sunday service. To celebrate the top-performing learner, the church gifted her R10 000.

@albertonrecordThe ceremony was held at the Eden Park Baptist Church on 37 Jaguar Street, in Eden Park. Congregants gathered to witness the awards ceremony and attend their weekly Sunday service. Full story on albertonrecord.co.za♬ original sound – Alberton Record

“We have embarked on a programme to reward top-performing learners in our church. This year, we have given R10 000 to the top-performing child, and we are working on a plan to reward them with R100 000 or more to help these children get properly educated. We are also doing this to show our community the value of being well-educated and we pray to God that more children will come,” said Tomes.

Speaking to children in the congregation, Pastor Bashing said: “We want the mind to be bigger, the money will be bigger, but the mind must be bigger than the money. Ons sê in Afrikaans, ‘gaan skool toe. As daar ‘n hek is, gaan by die hek in (we say in Afrikaans, ‘go to school’. If there is a gate, go into the gate),” he said jokingly to loud cheers.

List of all the winners:

Ammeliah Kopps – for outstanding performance in her outgoing academic year 2025. Grade One.

Avile Sofuthe – for outstanding performance in her outgoing academic year 2025. Grade Three.

Jayden Marais – for outstanding performance in her outgoing academic year 2025. Grade Two.

Geolin Kirkman – for outstanding performance in her outgoing academic year 2025. Grade Two.

Keisha Visser (R10 000 winner) – for outstanding performance in her outgoing academic year 2025. Grade 12.