POLOKWANE – To uplift the community, owner and founder of Bokang’s Learning Academy, Bokang Rapatsa (33) from Polokwane empowers young children in the community through her academy.

She told Polokwane Observer that the motivation behind the name of the academy is that growing up, she had always wanted to own something in her name, and when she founded the academy, she decided to name it ‘Bokang’ which means ‘praise or rejoice’.

“The academy was established in 2022 with the motivation behind me growing up without parents, where I considered myself as an orphan. I lived with my grandmother who struggled to help me with activities like my homework, and when I tried to do them on my own, I’ll always get poor marks in class, and that shook my confidence.

“When I looked around my community I saw many kids who were growing up in a similar environment I grew up in and it broke my heart, so I didn’t want them to go through the same experience I did.”

She told Polokwane Observer that the academy offers the children in the community social and emotional support, as well as a safe environment for learning, loving one another and becoming a family for moral support.

“I’m very passionate about education, getting children off the streets and community development, and another important thing is that I love children with all my heart, that’s why this academy is dedicated to children who grow up without support or structure.”

To become part of the academy, follow Bokang on Facebook: Bokang Rapatsa; Twitter: @Bokang747605 or Instagram: bokangrapatsa5.