Foundation founders feeding kids dreams

DUNCAN Village’s Ihlumelo Foundation, a non-governmental organisation which strives to change the lives of hundreds of pupils from the area, has grown in leaps and bounds since its inception two years ago.

After seeing the daily distractions that township life has to offer, such as the easy availability of drugs and alcohol, Vuyolwethu Magadlela, 24, and Sikholwethu Msuthwana, 27, who are both from the area, decided to intervene.

Magadlela, who is in the process of completing an information technology diploma through Boston City College, said he had been inspired to act when he realised that growing up in Duncan Village meant either a life of crime, alcohol and drug consumption or never qualifying in anything academic.

Brought up by his single mother, Magadlela said there was never anyone at home who asked whether or not his homework was done or was able to assist him study.

Msuthwana, on the other hand, said he had felt compelled to help because his past involved an addiction to alcohol, which he said nearly resulted in him not completing high school.

Started in June 2014, the foundation now comprises of an eight-member executive.

The foundation started out providing homework classes to a handful of struggling pupils in Grades 8 to 12.

Despite managing to organise a venue in the form of the Duncan Village Methodist Church hall to accommodate the pupils and getting tables and chairs where they could work, Magadlela said they were not able to answer many of the questions the pupils had, especially for subjects such as maths and science.

Magadlela said it became obvious that a tutor was needed and upon asking around, he managed to source the assistance of 15 University of Fort Hare students who willingly gave up their time in the afternoons to help.

The tutors receive no payment, just taxi fare so they can help the classes.

This is an ongoing arrangement, which began last year. As students complete their studies, so new students take their place.

Once this was established, Magadlela said they noticed that many of the younger children spent their afternoons on the streets playing after school, with very little sign of homework being done.

Magadlela said he and Msuthwana then decided to also accommodate primary school pupils from Grades 1 to 7.

After school classes are held in two different venues, with the pupils separated by grades. All subjects are covered, from languages, maths, science and business studies.

A UFH student majoring in each of the subjects in their chosen course provides the tutoring.

The classes are still held at the church hall and are now attended by up to 120 pupils every day.

The classes, open for anyone wanting to attend, are from 2.30pm to 5pm, three days a week.

It was when the homework classes started going well that the duo decided to throw in an afternoon meal.

By this point last year, they had managed to organise a donation from Stats South Africa, which sent a maths specialist to tutor the pupils a few times a week.

“We realised that many of these pupils were probably leaving their homes hungry to get to school, then spending the entire day in classes hungry and coming to attend the homework classes on an empty stomach, possibly with no promise of a meal when they returned back home later in the day,” Magadlela said.

“We decided to try and intervene by providing an afternoon meal, even if it was just a sandwich, so that when they get home they at least have something in their stomachs.”

After sending out letters requesting sponsorship, the founding pair managed to organise a bread donation from Sasko, which now delivers 50 loaves every day.

The sandwiches are made by two women from the area, with whatever filling is available.

Soup is also served on some afternoons, depending on which groceries are available each day.

Groceries are donated by local businesses and corporate sponsors.

And the two did not stop there. This June, they even managed to organise three bursaries to attend computer classes – open to their matric pupils.

They managed this by attending a career day attended by representatives from a number of government departments who addressed pupils on which courses they need to study for their chosen career paths.

To assist the 20 matric pupils attending their homework classes to be better prepared for their final exams, winter classes have just been held throughout the school holidays.

A beauty pageant, which doubled up as a fundraising event was held in May for pupils from Duncan Village High School.

Soccer was also thrown into the mix this year so pupils could get some exercise, with friendly matches played between themselves.

The latest achievement, which kicked off in July is the provision of a more solid nutrition programme, which begins breakfast each morning, and lunch before the pupils go home every afternoon. (They have sandwiches when they first arrive for homework class.)

Lunch is either samp or rice or maize meal, with whatever vegetables are available at the time.

Msuthwana said the breakfast porridge was served from 7.30am so pupils were not late for school.

“The pupils were so pleased at the announcement of the porridge and we can see how much they enjoy it. It gives us great pride to be able to do this for them daily,” he said.

“On top of that, we have also introduced a book club because we want to encourage the pupils to read because it’s so important.

“The kids get to choose a book and they meet once a month with the book club co-ordinator to discuss their books. This gives them an opportunity to increase their reading ability and language skills too.”

Grateful pupils said the foundation had changed their lives.

Nompumelelo Primary School pupil Sima Totyi said she had heard of the homework classes through a mutual friend of her mothers.

Living with her mother and helping to take care of her four-year-old brother in the afternoons, Totyi said she often could not do her homework.

“But now I have it done every single afternoon and it’s great. Here I get to study, eat a meal which has already been prepared and I get to see my friends too,” she said.

Grade 11 pupil Someleze Sobazile from Kusile Comprehensive High Schools said he had joined the classes for urgent assistance in his maths and science.

He said since joining, his grades in all of his subjects had improved.

“I plan to carry on right through to matric. These classes have helped not just me but so many of my classmates too.”

While managing to achieve so much, Magadlela said they were in urgent need of funding for taxi fare to assist the tutors and the cooks, and for pots and vegetables for the nutrition programme.

“We write to corporate companies all the time asking for assistance and sometimes we get lucky, other times not,” he said.

Msuthwana said: “We want this organisation to grow so thousands of kids can get assistance so they can achieve their dreams one day.

“If I could have my way, there would be an Ihlumelo Foundation branch in every township in South Africa so every child in need can get the care they deserve.” — zisandan@dispatch.co.za