Some of Alexandra’s poor children received a double dose of support to help ease their challenges in life.
This was from a weekend educational-support initiative through a Spelling Bee contest to enhance their literacy, and medical assessment to help improve their sight. They will also be later assessed for hearing impairment. Hosted by the 10th avenue based NPO, Blessed is the Hand that Gives, hundreds of them from grades R to 8 were kept off the streets at an occasion witnessed by family members and onlookers.
The Spelling Bee revealed their enthusiasm for education as the only gateway from their poverty-induced suffering in families of the unemployed, child or granny-headed households. “They come here daily during the week for feeding, homework supervision and for occasional material donations,” the NPO’s Philemon Matume said.
“The spelling contest will make them realise their potential, boost their confidence in class and make them aware that they too can make it in life through education,” The contest facilitated by the NPO’s partners from NPO Graceland and Love Covenant Church was in groups per grade and had the beaming children spell rehearsed and news words enthusiastically. Those who came tops received commendations of bags and trophies and a ‘pat on the back for well-tried but next time’ to the others as an encouragement.
The participants were prepared for it by a trio of young township ladies who supervise the after-school reading, writing and home sessions. “A gap in education makes them lag behind the others of their age later on in life,” said Sarah Mathews.
“We are aware that they struggle in class as their parents have no time to supervise their school work as they would be at work or come back home late and are illiterate or struggling and stressed with basic challenges of bringing food to the table.”
Mathews added that the initiative started two months ago also helped keep them away from the streets after school.
“Partnership with Blessed is the Hand that Gives is a perfect fit to promote our vision of empowering and encouraging poor children to value education,” said Irene Molomo. This said as the judges Renelled Smith, Sumeshnee Reddy and Nkosinathi Nhlapo adjudicated the children’s performance under strict rules baring any posing and repetition.
The eye-test screening conducted by a group under Soweto-based optometrist Augustine Masilela-Choene was part of a partnership with Ster Kinekor Entertainment company. “Once a year, the pact takes mostly poor children who haven’t been to a movie to a theatre to enjoy themselves. “This extends the partnership to some needy children among three million others nationally with visual impairment,” Bally Choene said.
Those found in need of help will be properly tested in three weeks and handed the glasses at a Ster Kinekor event in September. Choene said 300 targeted children including some from Soweto will later attend auditory testing through a partnership with Discovery Health. “They must be enabled to hear teachers better and improve their communication with others.”
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