Education South Africa Project #7495

Educate a South African Child Experiencing Poverty

by Christel House International

Educate a South African Child Experiencing Poverty

Project Report | May 30, 2014
"Not a Reflection of My Background"

By Aubrey Merki | Manager, Annual Fund

Tabisa, 2009 Graduate of CH South Africa

Thank you for your continued support of ‘Help South African H.S. Grads Attend College’! Your generosity gives Christel House South Africa students the opportunity to escape poverty through higher education, vocational training and job placement.

We are excited to introduce Tabisa Z., a 2009 Graduate of Christel House South Africa.

“I don’t have to be a reflection of my background,” Tabisa said when asked the most important thing she’d learned at Christel House. “The world is my oyster and in it I can achieve anything.”

Tabias grew up in Khayelitsha – South Africa’s second largest township after Soweto – where an estimated 1.5 million people live within a 17 square mile area. Today Tabisa is employed in that same impoverished community, at Hubspace – an organization dedicated to helping disadvantaged entrepreneurs procure office space, infrastructure and equipment. Tabisa’s skills in office administration and customer service helped her secure the position.

Tabisa offered valuable advice to fellow Christel House students:

“No matter in which part of the world they [students] are, they need to realize that they, too, have something to offer, in their school, community or as a citizen,” she says.

Tabisa’s goal is to use her talents to help improve her community.

“I hope to make a difference in Khayelitsha, and other poor communities. My background makes me empathize with the people and their challenges, and my education in business administration helps me work with them to solve problems.”

Christel House donors, like you, help students, like Tabisa, reimagine their futures and make an impactful difference in their communities while achieving their dreams. Thank you for your continued support.

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Feb 28, 2014
Popcorn Party

By Chi Nguyen | In-the-Field Representative

Little Cwenga, who is indeed 7 years old.

Chi Nguyen is an In-the-Field Representative with GlobalGiving who is visiting our partners’ projects throughout Southern Africa. Her “Postcard” from her visit to Christel House International in South Africa:

On Wednesday, February 19th I was privileged to be a part of teacher Chamelle De Silva's popcorn party for her small remedial class of six. At Christel House, they give a certain amount of time for children who may be a bit behind the curve in certain areas of learning for small group work, just as they give a certain amount of time for children who are a bit advanced to engage in exercises that can challenge them a bit more.

I watched as the children used words such as "taste", "smell", and "touch" to describe the popcorn. I couldn't help but smile as I saw that they were practically salivating as they jumped up and down, watching the popcorn pop in the microwave.

The children earned this popcorn party because they were able to spell the word "because" using what they called a "rhyme" to help them:

Betty

Eats

Cake

And

Uncle

Sells

Eggs

When they finally received the popcorn with some sugar dusting in their green cones, it seemed as if they could not eat it all quickly enough. As they ate, they shared stories, and a debate quickly popped up regarding whether little Cwendi was 8 (he maintained that he was) or if he was really 7. Without them knowing it, teacher Chamelle provoked their critical problem-solving skills and teamwork for them to find out Cwendi's real age. (He is indeed 7, as he turns 8 in July). They concluded the lesson with a quick review of how to spell "could", "would", and "should". They dusted the sugar off their hands and ran off, bellies full of popcorn, to the playground to join the rest of their classmates - no doubt eager to share their most recent "lesson" with their friends.

I stayed behind to chat with teacher Chamelle, and I quickly found out that I would be hard-pressed to find someone who speaks so lively and passionately about her profession. She gave me example after example of her past lessons for the children with enthusiastic gestures and an enormous smile on her face. When I commented on how impressed I was with the creativity of the lesson plans as well as how the children responded to them (with pride in what they had learned and how far they had come), she told me:

"These children are told all their lives that they can't do this, they can't do that right. It's not about can't - it's about all the little differences in each child. If there is one thing that I want these children to leave Christel House with by the time they graduate, it's the self-confidence to just try."

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Feb 27, 2014
Future Reimagined

By Aubrey Merki | Manager, Annual Fund

Reagan in the science lab at Christel House

Your support helps students, like Reagan, reimagine their future.

Reagan is a 10^th grade student at Christel House South Africa. He is one of the school’s top science students and was even named the “Top Physical Science Student” in the Junk Yard Siemens Robotics science competition. Reagan’s journey, however, has not been easy.

Growing up, Reagan’s father, when not incarcerated, was often very abusive. Some time ago, Reagan’s two older siblings dropped out of school. They no longer live at home—both are unemployed and use illegal substances. Reagan’s mother is the sole breadwinner of the home. She works at a local homeless shelter and struggles to make ends meet. Rent and utilities must be paid first, and what is left does not go far toward putting food on their table every day. Notwithstanding this level of turmoil in the family, Reagan had perfect attendance at school last year.

Christel House has helped Reagan keep a positive attitude and anticipate building a better life.

Regan’s future reimagined includes moving out of Manenburg Township. “I see myself studying Computer Science and Software Engineering, and getting my Master’s degree at the University of Cape Town. I would love to work at Google South Africa and live in a beautiful flat.”

Your generosity helps Christel House South Africa students, like Reagan, as they prepare for and attend university. Thank you for your continued support.

“Without Christel House, Reagan would never have excelled like he has. He has developed beyond my expectations. He is intelligent, smart and always willing to help others.” - Jacqueline, Mother of Reagan

“Work hard; believe in yourself and live strong. If I can do it, so can you!” - Reagan

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