POLOKWANE – Although she’s a mother to two children, Matthew (26) and Faith (23), Florence Mhango is also a mother to all the hostel learners at MEPS, and very proud at that.

Mhango, a Gr 1 teacher fondly referred to as ‘Mam Florence’, has been working at MEPS for over 30 years. She started in 1993 when the school was under the watchful eye of the late Betty Kennedy who was well known as ‘Aunty Betty’.

“It is such an amazing feeling to know that the children I have once taught and cared for 30 years ago, are now grown married men and women, and I now have the blessing of caring for and teaching their children. I can confidently say I’m a grandmother to the school nation and I’m proud of it,” she said.

Mhango is originally from Zambia and grew up in a church home.

“I lost both my parents at the age of two and from there I’ve been raised by family friends and different households, so I know what it feels like to not have your parents around. This is why my love and care for all the kids is beyond any explanation. I spend more time with the hostel kids and I love and care for them like they’re my own flesh and blood,” she said.

She added that being with the learners in the hostel is rewarding as they share all their many stories with her.

“The challenge we usually have in the hostel is the diversity of cultures of different children with different backgrounds, beliefs, morals, customs and behaviours. So we always try by all means to accommodate all of them. Every morning we preach the word of God during the morning devotions session, this way the children can get the correct guidance to life.”

“Ma’am Florence is indeed our Florence Nightingale,” school principal Sandy Pitsi remarked.