Thembisa High learners receive school uniforms

Bakgotsi Social Club continued their support to Thembisa High School as they visited the school on Friday to donate full school uniforms to at least 10 needy learners.

The social club has been in partnership with the school for years, continuing to donate school uniforms to the school.

In previous years, the organisation helped learners not only with uniform but also school fees. The club members were also given time to motivate the learners. Member of the club William Seabi said in 1974 when he went to Thembisa High, it was the first time he wore a pair of shoes to school.

“During our times, we had it hard but we prevailed. We are saying to you young ones that education will mould you to be better persons tomorrow, and remember to reach out and give the little you have to those who need it,” said Seabi.

Steve Ngwane, Thembisa High School principal, said they are honoured to have the Bokgotsi Social Club coming year after year to help where possible, especially to a school where most members of the club were schooling at.

“They have been consistently giving back to this school, no matter how our end-year results look they continue giving. “This year, we are going to improve from where we left off last year.

“In 2018, we were at 70 per cent matric pass. We improved to 85,6 per cent in the 2019 results. We said to ourselves no one should invest to a school that is not showing results because this is an investment to the kids’ future and so as to the school. We were awarded the most improved school in the whole of Ekurhuleni.”

Jafta Sipho Mabunda, Bokgotsi Social Club deputy treasure, said the club is a registered non-profit organisation which also does social responsibility programmes.

“The club was started by people with diverse backgrounds, such as professionals and ordinary Thembisan’s who people were looking up to. Then they decided that after taking care of their own needs they needed to expand to assist others outside the club.

“Thembisa High and the now defunct Arebaokeng Hospice came to mind. We have been assisting the learners with uniform and in some stages with school tuition fees. We also assisted the hospice in any way possible; unfortunately, it shut down.

Mabunda added that the success story throughout the years is that the learners they have been funding throughout have not disappointed by furthering their studies.

“Others have graduated in tertiary level in qualifications of their choice. This is something that we are proud of as Bokgotsi Social Club. We are hoping that this legacy will continue even with the current learners we have sponsored,” said Mabunda.

Mulalo Ngobeni, Thembisa High School coordinator, said, “From the beginning, I was part of the project because I am a teacher who has worked with children categorised as ‘vulnerable learners’ and we have a good relationship with the club.

“Though at times we had trouble finding the right shoe sizes, they remained calm, helped us exchange the shoes and came again with right sizes.

One of Thembisa High learners, Selaelo Kamone, thanked the Social Club for their contribution to bettering their lives in school and empowering them to continue their studies without discrimination against those who do not have proper uniform.

Kamone, in her speech, said,“We would like to thank the Bakgotsi Social Club for making us look presentable like other learners. We will now walk around with confidence because our dignity has been restored.

“The club has set an example to us to say tomorrow we can give the small we have to make a huge difference in someone’s life,” said Kamone.