I have been privileged, for the past few months now, to become a part of the life of the School of Hope. This school, located in Athlone, is a place where youth at risk and vulnerable young people are given a second chance to finish high school. The ridiculously high drop-out rate in the Western Cape means that many are not completing school for reasons like teen pregnancies, drugs, abuse and a lack of value placed on education.
I have found the school to be such an encouraging environment. Here young people are stirred to make their lives count and day by day gain the confidence to do so. The School of Hope is a special needs school and an educational project of the Thembalitsha Foundation. At the moment it caters for about 70 students from Grade 9 to 12.
I've been helping the English teacher Yentl by tutoring 2 English additional language students in matric (and having lots of fun in the process). Here they are at the school market day earlier this year, preparing traditional delicacies to sell.
Bianca and Thandazo
I also had the opportunity to help Lana, another one of the teachers, to create a small vegetable patch for one of her students living in Phillipi. Says Lana: Where there's soil, there's food!
To read more about the School of Hope, take a look at their blog at http://soh-thembalitsha.blogspot.com/. At the moment, the school is bursting out of its current venue so definitely needs new room to expand. Also, with the lease coming to an end soon, the school needs to secure new premises at the end of the year.I know that God delights in this school so please pray with me as He leads the school into a spacious new place!
I have found the school to be such an encouraging environment. Here young people are stirred to make their lives count and day by day gain the confidence to do so. The School of Hope is a special needs school and an educational project of the Thembalitsha Foundation. At the moment it caters for about 70 students from Grade 9 to 12.I've been helping the English teacher Yentl by tutoring 2 English additional language students in matric (and having lots of fun in the process). Here they are at the school market day earlier this year, preparing traditional delicacies to sell.
Bianca and Thandazo I also had the opportunity to help Lana, another one of the teachers, to create a small vegetable patch for one of her students living in Phillipi. Says Lana: Where there's soil, there's food! To read more about the School of Hope, take a look at their blog at http://soh-thembalitsha.blogspot.com/. At the moment, the school is bursting out of its current venue so definitely needs new room to expand. Also, with the lease coming to an end soon, the school needs to secure new premises at the end of the year.I know that God delights in this school so please pray with me as He leads the school into a spacious new place! 
