By: Motshabi Hoaeane
On July 4th, KM Academy, an educational tutorial service provider from Vosloorus based at Masithwalisane Secondary School, which has operating since 2020 providing mentorship and lesson support to students from grade 7 – 12, embarked on a Mandela Day outreach for the first time as part of its overall outreach initiatives.The event’ activities which were held from the premises of Scroll of Liberty by Jesus Christ Ministries were hosted in collaboration with organisation Impumelelo Community Centre in an effort to bring hope and long term change to the lives of children who would be future leaders but couldn’t easily get access to the academy’ tutorial subscription service owing to economic disparity.
The event included lunch, fun and games that brought both warmth and change into the lives of the children participating at the event.
“The Academy’s intention was to create a joyful, educational, and empowering experience for children, rooted in the values Nelson Mandela stood for kindness, equality, and opportunity. Activities included poems, speeches, games, and mentorship sessions, all designed to nurture self-confidence and community spirit” said Mrs. Manake Dibula, KM Academy Managerial Representative.
In a game changing move, KM Academy during this event also took eight children under its wings to receive sponsorship for tutorial membership from its Academy.The tutorials take place every Saturday and also during school holidays.
Another member of the KM Academy team added that holistic development, community networking and unity were some values that the Academy believed in.
“We believe that learners must understand the importance of unity, working together, and the importance of helping where need be,” he said. The Academy also mentioned that it intended to turn this initiative into an annual tradition that evolved with the changing needs of the community.
“We also believe that in order to sustain giving back initiatives, some can be done through education. So we know and are confident that if these learners are going to take the opportunity with both hands it will bring change into their communities and their families,” he added.
Dibula emphasised, “While KM Academy has always embraced Mandela Day’s Spirit, this year’s event was inspired by new circumstances including a growing need for safe, inclusive spaces for children to learn and play. The Academy recognized the importance of reconnecting communities and addressing the emotional and educational gaps many children face.”
KM Academy further confirmed that chosen learners would continue to retain their sponsorship provided they continued to perform well in their high-school studies, and would likewise receive support and guidance toward their tertiary educational studies as they progressed in their learning journey.
Leader at the Impumelelo Community Centre, Thabo Kiviet Madubedube expressed appreciation and gratitude for the event saying it always good to have various stakeholder like KM Academics, and Safetyline – an initiative that seeks to bring restoration to fire awareness training in the informal settlement – collaborate for the greater well-being of the children.
“It was inspiring to see our organization and KM academy coming together, as we are always looking forward to working hand in hand with organizations in the field of education – we are honoured,” he said.
“This partnership was chosen to amplify the spirit of Ubuntu, the belief in shared humanity and to ensure that the event reached children from diverse backgrounds who would benefit most from the experience,” Dibula concluded.
