SPARK Rivonia High scholars present solutions to global challenges at internal summit
Young thinkers at a local school link their classroom learning to sustainable development goals while building confidence, independence, and leadership skills for the future.
SPARK Rivonia High scholars were challenged to apply their classroom knowledge to real-world problems when the school hosted its Nexus and Impact Internal Summit on September 12.
The event turned the spotlight onto the ideas of young people as Grade 8 and 9 scholars took part in the Nexus Summit, while their Grade 10 and 11 counterparts participated in the Impact Summit.
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Rather than simply repeating what they had learned in class, the scholars were expected to identify challenges, investigate them and think creatively about solutions.
Their projects were linked to the United Nations 17 Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), bringing issues such as education, poverty, inequality, health, climate action and sustainable communities closer to home.
SPARK Rivonia High education programme lead Phiwokuhle Ndwandwe said the summits were built around the belief that meaningful learning should not end when scholars leave the classroom.
“We want our scholars to be more than recipients of information; we want them to be thinkers, creators, problem-solvers and changemakers,” she said.
Ndwandwe noted that seeing the originality behind the scholars’ projects was one of the most exciting aspects of the summit. She added that the experience encouraged scholars to identify challenges, ask meaningful questions, develop solutions for their communities, and look at interconnected issues like poverty, health and environmental sustainability from different angles.
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This approach reflects SPARK’s focus on developing systems thinkers, young people who can look beyond one problem and consider the wider picture.
“When scholars are responsible for researching a problem, developing a solution and presenting their work, they develop independence, accountability and confidence,” said Ndwandwe.
“Leadership is not simply about having a title. It is about taking responsibility, listening to others, solving problems and having the courage to turn an idea into action.”
The connection to the SDGs also helped scholars see that their ideas do not have to start on a global scale to have global relevance. A solution designed around a challenge in their own community can form part of a much bigger conversation about the future.
Ndwandwe said the purpose of the summit was to ensure scholars leave SPARK Rivonia High with more than academic knowledge.
“We want them to have the confidence not only to enter the world, but to shape it, to identify problems, collaborate on solutions and use their knowledge and character to create meaningful and sustainable impact.”
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