inVOLVED:
Words: Tracy Knox | Photos: Sbongile Mahlangu
Cibiliza Secondary School Needs Your Help When I was in high school, back in the late ‘80s, school was hard. But in saying that, my biggest worry was making sure that I progressed to the next grade, attended sports practice (school not private coaching) and made it into the teams of the various sports I played in. You could say that I had it pretty easy.
Today, school is way harder. There is far more pressure on the kids not just to do well but to excel in both in the classroom and on the sports field, leaving little time just to be kids. But for the 316 students that attend Cibiliza Secondary School in Mpumalanga, this is just the start of their problems.
Their school has no sports field, library, laboratory or computer lab.
But now we get to the real issues. Teenage pregnancies are sadly all too common, with
many of the female students choosing to have an abortion because they are either too scared to tell their parents (who don't discuss sexual issues with them); there's peer pressure from their friends who've had an abortion before; they know that they can't afford to have a child and the father of the child does not want the child or disputes that it is actually his; they will have to stop their schooling for some time; and their ultimate fear, being a single parent.
Then there are the male students who are dropping out of school for a number of reasons, such as alcohol and drug abuse;
getting involved in criminal activities so that they can wear 'label' clothes and be 'in' with their friends; they have become a father and feel they need to work to support the child; and for many the most common reason is because they are from poor families and have to work to support their families.
Added to this lethal cocktail is that fact that there are only 13 teachers to provide tuition to the students, a huge ask of any
teacher, and this has led to some of them losing their drive to teach and motivate the learners. So, it comes as not surprise to learn that, over the years, a large percentage of matric students are not making the grade and only attaining very low matric results. Furthermore, the number of new students enrolling at the school is at an all time low. But does anyone really care because, let’s face it, this is just one of many schools in South Africa that is struggling and needs help. Thankfully, there are organisations and people in South Africa who do care and want to improve the standards of education at Cibiliza Secondary School (and other similar schools), to raise funds for the tools and facilities needed to help the learners excel, and encourage the teachers to renew their commitment to their vocation, the learners and school.
Organisations that have to the aid of Cibiliza Secondary School are Tlhogomela Education Project, Mavuba Media and Communications and Do More Talk Less. 2 • DO IT NOW DIGITAL | April 2013_#5
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Their mission is to formulate partnerships that will benefit the youth and uplift communities through education in southern Africa. To do this, its members plan to target the youth and promote their mission through school visits, the media and social networking sites, such as MySpace, Facebook, Twitter YouTube. The reason for using social networking is because most of the younger generation has access to one or more of these forums. It’s also a useful way of keeping members updated, informed and motivated beyond the work that is done at their particular schools. Do More Talk Less (DMTL) Organisation has been operating in Mpumalanga and surrounding areas since 2009. In the Thembisile Hani local municipalities, partnerships have been forged with Mavuba Media and Communications, ZIVUSENI Organisation and the Tlhogomela Education Project Organisation. Now DMTL, Mavuba Media and Communications and PMC Way Entertainment have gone one step further and approached the Department of Education in Mpumalanga with a proposal to partner with them and assist with transport and other logistics, as well as accompany them on visits to schools in their province. To date, no answer has been received from the Department of Education, but the DMTL and its partners continue to follow up. Through these partnerships and by believing in quality education, skills development and investing in the youth of Mpumalanga and South Africa, the Tlhogomela Education Project, Do More Talk Less and Mavuba Media and Communications PMC Way Entertainment have high hopes of improving the level of education in South Africa, a vital component to help our economy grow and alleviate poverty. Sakie Tshabangu, one of the partners of the Tlhogomela Education Project, is proof that this can work is. He is very involved with the students and teachers at various schools in Mpumalanga (Cibiliza School, Vukani Senior Secondary School, Nansindlela High School and others school) and provides career guidance, as well as sets up sports tournaments, debating and motivational talks as a way to motivate the students and teachers. But the Tlhogomela Education Project, Mavuba Media and Communications and Do More Talk Less are not the only ones to heed the cry for help at Cibiliza Secondary School. A number of local celebrities are putting their hearts and weight behind the school and helping to make a big difference.
Radio and TV presenter William Jiyana, and motivational speaker and sports writer Thabiso Molopo are doing their part by being role models, who guide and inspire the students to want more, to be more. 4 • DO IT NOW DIGITAL | April 2013_#5
Even our local musicians are getting involved. Thulibathi, a kwaito and hip hop artist, and reggae and hip hop artists Harmony and Bongoman, all well-known musicians in Mpumalanga and surrounding areas, are holding events as a way of raising much-needed funds for schools. Since January 2013, they have been very successful and raised R3,000 that has been used for operational costs.
Give a helping hand
Apart from the Tlhogomela Education Project, Mavuba Media and Communications and Do More Talk Less (DMTL) Organisation's contribution to helping the students and teachers of Cibiliza Secondary School, there is still a dire need for books and working computers, as well as volunteers to give of their time to help around the school in any way they can. There are also various opportunities for companies, such the sponsorship of the Cibiliza Secondary School and Tlhogomela Education Project, Do More Talk Less Organisation, Mavuba Media and Communications' operational programme and helping students who have matriculated to find a job. Partners are also needed to assist with transport, computers and finance or resources to build multipurpose centres, libraries, laboratories and sports centres for the school and communities that Tlhogomela Education Project, Do More Talk Less (DMTL) Organisation and Zivuseni Youth Organisation operates in.
Together, we have the ability to streamline and open the door for geographically limited youth in Mpumalanga. Are you in? •
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If you would like to get involved and help make a positive change in the lives of the students at Cibiliza Secondary School, then contact Sakie Tshabangu by email on sakieshabangu@yahoo.com or Thando Mahlangu from Do More Talk Less (DMTL) Organisation by email on thandopmahlangu@gmail.com.
èRelated articles: • Climb Kilimanjaro and Help Save a Life (Digital article, March '13)
• Teachers and Children Fly High (Issue 17, p. 144)
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