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www.thevillagenews.co.za
4 March 2020
MY SCHOOL
Hermanus’s own Shining Star needs YOU Writer Elaine Davie
A
ll kinds of disparaging remarks are constantly being aimed at the youth of this country. On the contrary, my interviews with young people across the Overstrand have left me deeply inspired by their level of talent, energy, creativity and commitment, as well as their determination to give something back to their own communities and the country as a whole. In their hands, South Africa cannot fail to prosper. A shining example is Inga Mfundisi, a Grade 12 learner and Prefect at Hermanus High School. Without in any way neglecting her school work, as confirmed by the above-average results she achieves, she has committed herself to a mind-boggling array of extra-mural activities. She confesses to being very disciplined about how she divides up her time. She tells me she has a mantra which guides all her endeavours, a quote from Mother Teresa of Calcutta: “I alone cannot change the world, but I can cast a stone across the waters to create many ripples.” It was this sentiment which led her in 2016 to found the Zwelihle Chess Club, which she still runs with the help and support of her dad and which has grown to 45 members, mostly youngsters, but some adults from her community as well. A South African Junior Chess Champion herself, she wanted to introduce
other children in her community to the skills and pleasure she has derived from the sport. She is super-excited that an 11-year-old from the club who has only been playing the game for a year and a half, has been selected to represent South Africa at the World Junior Games in South America this year. In addition to this, she is an Ambassador for the Children’s Book Network (CBN) run by Lesley Beake in Stanford to encourage children to develop a love of books and storytelling, and participates in the regular reading workshops they run. Last year, for Mandela Day, she initiated a project to collect children’s books through her school. Over a thousand flooded in and were distributed to various disadvantaged schools in the area as well as the Just Care aftercare centre. “I have grown so much as a person through these projects,” she says. “My passion is to make a difference, not only in my community and country, but in the world. I want to add value, you know, and I want to inspire others to do the same. It’s all about passion, not about being forced to do something.”
activities, she is a motivational speaker and was a gold medallist in a national poetry and public speaking competition last year. Selected to attend an International competition in New York, she was unable to go because of financial constraints. Now she has a new project: competing in South Africa’s Miss Teenager Competition. Already chosen to represent the Western Cape in the Finals in Johannesburg from 19 – 21 June, where she will be competing against about 270 other teenage girls from around the country, she emphasises that this is not just a beauty pageant, the competitors must also demonstrate a commitment to community service and be able to give expression to their personalities. Part of the process is having to market themselves. Although there will be official judges for the various categories, there is also a participatory element in which the public is asked to vote for the candidate of their choice. Voting by SMS will open on 20 March and it will be up to each girl to use all her ingenuity and marketing skills to raise her profile to the maximum. Inga has already started working on her strategy and nearer the voting date will be putting up posters around town as well as posts across all social media. Look out for them.
She hasn’t decided what she wants to study after matriculating, but she does know she doesn’t want to give up chess and would like to qualify as an arbiter, or coach. “I want to create a platform for other South African children to excel at chess on a world stage and to become future leaders,” she says.
This is where YOU, the citizens of Hermanus come in: by flooding the judges with votes for Inga, we may soon have our very own Zozibini Tunzi to brag about. She is also in serious need of sponsorship for her flight to Johannesburg, as well as to cover the cost of a knock-downgorgeous evening gown (rose gold is her favourite colour), and a chic smart-casual outfit. She will also be required to model a cultural garment and has already found a designer to help her with this.
Articulate, self-confident, beautiful and warm, this girl is on the move. To add to all her other
Inga never loses an opportunity to talk about how much she owes to her parents (mom is
ABOVE: Inga in a beautiful, forest-green, jewelled evening gown with her Miss Teenager South Africa Finalist sash. CIRCLE: Inga is extremely proud of her school, Hermanus High, which has supported her in all her projects. PHOTOS: Taylum Meyer a teacher at Lukhanyo Primary School), her community and her school (especially Principal Hassenkamp) for all the support they have given to all her projects. Now is the time for the whole of the Overstrand to chip in. The theme of the Miss Teenager Finals is Naledi – Shining Star – and this is our opportunity to do it for someone who is already a shining star in her community, Queen Inga! For any offers of help, Inga can be contacted on zwelihlechess@gmail.com or cell 067 025 3435.
