Training for Young South African Teachers

My name is Jo-ann, I'm 24 years old. I was born on the 19 January 1990 in Muizenburg, where my parents lived. My parents was married for three years after I was born, not long after that, they got divorced and went their own paths. My mother got custody of me and my sister. We then stayed at a family member’s house for a while, but after a few months she left us there and her uncle and his wife took care of us and gave us everythting a child could ask for.

I matriculated in 2007, a year after that my sister matriculated. I then got myself a holiday job as a secretary at a boat charting company. I really enjoyed working there and after two years I got pregnant. I used to be so shy because after a few months, I started showing and got fat and just went to work and back. After nine months, I gave birth to my son Deagan and the day of his birth was the happiest day of my life because at that moment I knew I got to give him the love and care I wanted my own mother and father to give to us.

I never hated them, I just missed having them around. Not long after Deagan was born, I went back to work because they needed me but I only worked there for two weeks and then quit my job there to look after my son.

For the time that I was at home looking after Deagan, his daddy's income was the only income we had. I did miss my job, but we survived. Then after a year and a few few months, I started looking out for a job.  An early education centre near me was looking for an assistant and I applied. I then took my CV but I didn't get it but then after a few weeks they gave me a call to came in for an interview.  They said I have the job and I started the 1st of april 2011.

In 2012, I asked one of the teachers to bring me an application form from the college because it was then I knew this is what I wanted to do. The teacher did bring the form and I filled it in as I was supposed to do. I got a letter by mail to say I have to come in and write a test and I passed. I was at college for 18 months and was never absent and my assignments were never late. After the 18 months, the college phoned me to say I was selected to do my level 5 because I was found competent.  I went to college to sign off my last file for moderation and did my orientation the same day.

I got my dates for my classes in starting in july. I then went to my principal to tell her the good news and she said no, she would not give me permission to do it. I begged her and her answer was still no. I cried, I even told her you can deduct a days’ money and she still said no.

I was so unhappy because I felt that she was taking away something from me and this was a big opportunity for me to making something out of my life.

I accepted her not wanting me to go and I thought that there will be bigger ones for me in the future.  

I really enjoyed the Love to Langa workshops because it inspired me a lot and there was lots to learn. The best part of going to the Love to Langa workshops is I get to learn new things and can teach it to others who doesn't have the privilege of doing it and its always a pleasure helping others and meeting new people.