Ruth First scholarship recipients introduced
The Ruth First Jeppe Memorial Scholarship Programme was introduced at Jeppe High School for Girls in memory of Ruth First who attended the school.
Fourteen new Ruth First scholarship recipients at Jeppe High School for Girls were introduced on Wednesday at an event attended by sponsors and parents.
The scholarship recipients had the opportunity to discuss the theme, Speaking truth to power, with reference to women who were not afraid to speak out such as Fatima Meer and Makhosi Khoza.
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The girls also discussed topics such as feminism and stereotypes, the power of writing, the value of discipline, the benefits of a woman as president and gender inequality.
The guest speaker for the evening was former South African High Commissioner to London, Cheryl Carolus.
She spoke to the girls about the importance of education and excellence.
“We must strive to be the best of ourselves,” said Carolus.
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She also spoke about pregnancy and advised the girls to abstain and wait for the right time.
“Wait for the right time to have a baby because a child is a blessing – having one at the wrong time can turn the moment into a burden. Enjoy being at school and value your education,” said Carolus.
Another special guest who graced the event was Ruth First’s eldest daughter Shawn Slovo.
She shared a moving speech about being the daughter of Ruth First.
“Our family was different. Most of my friends’ mothers were housewives but my mother was a working woman. It meant spending my Saturdays at her office,” said Slovo.
She said when the community learned who her parents were, they were isolated as a family.
“I would not change anything about our life. It was tough on us as her children because we witnessed all the things that were done to our parents and their having to go into exile. However, we understood the important work our parents were doing,” said Slovo.
The new Ruth First Jeppe Memorial Scholarship recipients are Bessem Besong from Dinwiddie Primary, Layla Fynn from Jeppe Prep, Lucky Geluk from Alberton Primary, Maroushkha Maghoma from Observatory Girls, Tshireletso Matsogo from Alberview, Lamees Matwadia from Dinwiddie Primary, Diya Narotam from Progress Primary, Escarboucle Ndonga from Johannesburg Girls Prep, Chiamaka Obi from Rembrandt Park, Favour Oluwaleye from Laerskool Kensington, Athena Papoutsis from Bedfordview Primary, Sinethemba Madonsela from Sir Edmund Hillary, Anathi Madeke from Emadleweni and Sinentlantla Gqoloma from Firethorn Primary.
Kevin Tait, Jeppe High School for Girls’ business and advancement consultant, thanked the sponsors for their contributions and all those involved in the Ruth First scholarship programme.
The Ruth First Jeppe Memorial Scholarship Programme was introduced at Jeppe High School for Girls in memory of Ruth First who attended the school.
The scholarship programme is funded solely by private and corporate donations and has covered the full tuition for 61 learners who might not have been able to afford the fees to attend Jeppe Girls.
The programme is going into its eighth year. Ten scholarship recipients have already matriculated and a further nine will matriculate at the end of 2017.
For more information contact Tait on 083 301 6503 or 011 616 5090/1 or email ruthfirstjeppetrust@jeppegirls.co.za
