Sosh foundation to host spelling bee competition
Young children from the ages of seven to 17 are invited to enter the spelling bee competition, to be held on 24 August 2019.
The Marcia Lebambo Foundation will host the 7th annual spelling bee competition on 24 August 2019, where 50 to 100 learners from Soshanguve will compete for the top spot.
Founder, Dr Marcia Lebambo hopes to continue to offer support to the participating schools when the event takes place at the Tshwane University of Technology (TUT) Soshanguve campus.
According to Dr Lebambo, resource allocation in public schools is not the same. She said rural and township schools did not get enough support to ensure that learning was effective.
“There is a lack of learning technologies such as computer labs, shortages of textbooks, poor infrastructure, lack of toilets and lack of classrooms that are conducive to learning,” said Lebambo.
The foundation started in 2012 after Lebambo realised she could make a change by starting a foundation to help learners who found it difficult to compete in a global economy because of a lack of resources.
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“We have interacted with over 4 000 learners from rural and township schools across South Africa and about 120 learners from Maseru in Lesotho in a quest to improve literacy.”
The organization uses programmes such as storytelling in the mother tongue, reading aloud, writing clubs, and summarising books.
She said with the spelling bee, children learned definitions, pronunciations as well as the roots of words.
“Learning grammar is not the only benefit. Learners are able to enhance their vocabulary, competitive spirit, greater knowledge, cognitive skills and confidence. We work with schools, parents and community-based organisations to support the learners and to host competitions,” added Lebambo.
Lebambo mentioned that the latest statistics regarding the Progress of International Reading Literacy study reported that eight out of 10 learners in grade 4 could not read.
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In addition, for those who could, they could not comprehend what they read.
“Last year in 2018, the organisation added another important programme focusing on youth entrepreneurship. Creative and entrepreneurial ideas from learners are given a chance in our annual pitch competitions to assess if the ideas can be turned into businesses. Our 2018 young entrepreneur winner, Kamogelo Mabale, a grade 7 learner from Soshanguve, is currently writing a book on the state of life in the township,” said Lebambo.
She said Kutlwano Mataboge in grade 7, from Matlapeng Primary School in Soshanguve, won the competition twice in 2017 and 2018.
“He is keen on coming back again this year, therefore, I advise other young learners to challenge him in a fun and educational way by coming too,” Lebambo added.
Entry is free for participants and R30 for supporters. Interested pupils can send their names, surname and name of schools to dr.marcialebambo@gmail.com.
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