South’s learners raise the bar
This year the SABC Foundation surprised the learners by presenting them with R300 000 towards studies at any of the South African universities over the next three years
CRYSTAL Church hosted the 2016 annual Raise the Bar Achievement Awards in Aeroton on Sunday, January 24.
The church presented all the surrounding schools with trophies and honored two of the community’s outstanding achievers and top achiever in Johannesburg South, Eric Prins from Glenvista High School.
This year the SABC Foundation surprised the learners by presenting them with R300 000 towards studies at any of the South African universities over the next three years. Iris Cupido who is the foundation’s CEO said education does not recognise colour, race or creed. “We become equal with everyone else when we apply for a job. Your future is yours to own and control,” she said. She went on to thank everyone who pays their TV license as it’s because of them that the SABC can assist learners.
Message on confidence from Crystal Church’s senior pastors: “Confidence will ignite your dreams. Many of us get a brilliant education but when we get to the podium or interview room we fail dismally because we allow dream killers like our past, fear and uncertainty to get a hold of us. Deal with your dream killers and build confidence.”
Miss World Africa and current Miss South Africa Liesl Laurie, Mrs Commonwealth Janine Kamaar, ANC and DA MPs and councillors, author of “A Teacher changed my life” Darren August and Idols SA’s Rhema Varrie were among the speakers at the event celebrating the Johannesburg central and south learners’ 2015 matric results.
Laurie, who is a local resident of the south, told the crowd: “You are not a product of your circumstances, you are a product of choice. Finding your purpose will make this country a better place. Discipline and my trust in God is what got me to the place I am today. I had tremendous favour amongst all the contestants in China. At Miss World I was asked, what makes you special Liesl? It is because I was raised by two generations of strong women – my grandmom and mom. We all make mistakes, my mom is an example of someone who fell prey to the drug scourge in Johannesburg, but she picked herself up again. It’s not how many times you fall that matters, but the defining moment is when you decide to get up again.”
Director of Sports in the Department of Basic Education, Cedric Ranchod, said that although there are many good stories coming from the local coloured communities, student performance is still a major concern in these areas. “Schooling represents a community and in a community where parents don’t attend parent meetings and don’t follow up their child’s report it becomes an issue of a child just continuing performing bad without any intervention. This is extremely concerning. Living in a disadvantaged community does not determine your marks,” he said. Ranchod went on to say that the best science student in the Gauteng province comes from a squatter camp close to Reiger Park in the east of Johannesburg.
Organiser and public relations officer of Crystal Church, Glisson Niekerk, thanked all the speakers, community leaders and politicians who made time to come out to inspire learners and educators. “Our generation follows people, not institutions and the more they see good role models and people watching them genuinely care about their progress they will think twice before quitting,” said Glisson.
