Jessica Pringle, a Grade 11 learner at Crawford International Ruimsig, has made her school proud as she clinched seventh position at the Ahmed Kathrada Foundation National Essay Writing Competition.

The foundation was established in 2008, and it was created to promote and uphold the values that Ahmed Kathrada and his generation of anti-apartheid activists stood for.

The foundation is a non-governmental organisation and is dedicated to advancing the principles of justice, non-racialism and equality.

Ahmed Kathrada, a veteran of the liberation struggle, was imprisoned for 26 years on Robben Island alongside other Rivonia Trialists for his anti-apartheid activism. The foundation continues to be inspired by his dedication to a non-racial and democratic South Africa.

Jessica’s winning essay, titled The Influence of Pop Culture on Racism, looked at how stereotypes in films, social media, music and television continue to shape people’s insights on race, reinforcing prejudice while highlighting the need for awareness and active involvement in such issues.

Her essay was published in the foundation’s youth essay magazine, allowing her to reach and inspire more people. The school is also proud of her achievement, and they celebrated her and brought a light to her talent and ability to take on important and relevant social issues and thoughtfully express them through her writing.