Church’s initiative bridges the gap in education

Leona Dukada, a dedicated committee member of the Seventh Day Adventist (SDA) Church’s education department, had a vision to support high school children in need.

She conducted a survey to assess the technical support gap and identify the subjects that required the most attention. The results showed that students in grades 11 and 12 were struggling with technical subjects, like mathematics, accounting, and physical science.

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Determined to bridge this gap, Dukada and her team designed a program to provide free online technical support classes every Sunday for the Fourways community and its surrounding areas

She said they leveraged their network of skilled professionals in science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM) fields to curate a program that offered education, mentorship, and allyship. The classes were carefully aligned with the South African curriculum, and backed by best practices, to ensure consistency and effectiveness.

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“Initially our survey targeted kids from grades 8–12, but technical support is provided only for grade 11 [and] 12, due to the greatest need being among this group. As such, resources were priotised towards this, with a long term vision of extending the program [to] more grades as opportunities, and resources, allow.”
The program is also aimed to provide a safety net for students who can’t afford to attend extra classes.

Dukada and her team believe that every child deserves equal access to quality education, regardless of their financial background.

She said since the program took off, she witnessed the positive impact it had on the students. They began to show improvement in their struggling subjects, and their confidence grew.

The initiative had not only bridged the technical support gap but also instilled hope, and a love for learning, in the hearts of the students.

She said they encourage interested scholars and parents to reach out to the Sandton Adventist Church education department via email to join the program.

“Interested scholars, or the parents of children doing grades 11 and 12, can reach out through email to misokuhlel@gmail.com, or moshwamodise@gmail.com, for more information.”

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