Kingsmead challenge inner city perceptions

Kingsmead College has partnered with the Dlala Nje Foundation to challenge negative perceptions of the inner city.

While Hillbrow has come to be associated with crime, prostitution and drugs for many, the Kingsmead girls have seen Dlala Nje’s community centre at Ponte Towers live up to its Zulu meaning – just play.

Teachers from the French department at Kingsmead College noted that many children were of Francophone origin but had limited exposure to their mother tongue. Subsequently, Kingsmead launched a Saturday School for French-speaking Children of Ponte Towers to be run by French learners from Kingsmead.

Kingsmead has also planted vegetables in egg cartons which were donated to Dlala Nje, made regular visits to assist at the Dlala Nje community centre and completed a very successful book drive to contribute to its library.

All textbooks, children’s books and French books collected through the book drive were sorted and packed by Kingsmead College girls. The remainder of the books were used to host a successful book stall at the annual Kingsmead Goodwill Day to raise funds for the Dlala Nje community engagement programmes.

Director of services at Kingsmead College, Jenny Venter said, “We encourage all our girls to get involved in community service and our ultimate goal is to instil and cultivate active citizenship.”

Dlala Nje also hosts a number of walking tours through the inner city. The profit emanating from these tours is invested in furthering the entertainment and education at the Dlala Nje community centre.

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