Newsletter April 2019

8

EEESAY’s purpose is to prepare young people for their future. We share with you the story of Imitha Timla, who attended Phakamani High School up to the end of 2018, was part of the business team. She is now studying in Cape Town.

I N S P I R A T I O N A L E D U C A T O R S

When we asked her about who inspired her at school, Imitha said: “Miss Phumeza Mbada was more than being a teacher to me. She was always by my side. She was the best part of my high school. She had that strong feeling about me. She gave me confidence, to believe in myself. She cares a lot about her students and when it comes to teaching and she really knows what she is doing. She is one of the world’s best teachers.”

Imitha Thimla was a leader in the Phakamani Senior Secondary School business. She says she loved being part of the EEESAY programme and that she learnt a lot; how to communicate with others, and how to deal with different people. She also learned that by working together any obstacle can be overcome. She also had this to say:

“ W o r k h a r d t o m a k e y o u r d r e a m c o m e t r u e . K e e p w o r k i n g h a r d b e c a u s e o n e d a y i t w i l l p a y y o u i n r e t u r n . T e l l y o u r s e l f t h a t t h e r e i s n o l i m i t t o w h a t y o u c a n a c h i e v e . S u c c e s s i s o n t h e m o u n t a i n s o y o u h a v e t o c l i m b t h e m o u n t a i n . ”

LEARNING ABOUT THE VALUE OF ITERATION

Siyabonga Mngomezulu (19) joined the Amazulu High School business team in August 2017 and was part of the team working on the business idea and first business plan. The school team planned and set up a business called Amazulu crafters – selling art work and decorated jewellery boxes. He also had this to say:

Siyabonga MngomeZulu

“ T h e a d v i c e I w o u l d s h a r e w i t h t h o s e i n t e r e s t e d t o s t a r t a b u s i n e s s i s t h a t i t m a y n o t b e e a s y w h e n y o u s t a r t , b u t i f y o u p u t y o u r m i n d t o i t , a n d h a v e d e d i c a t i o n , i t i s a l l p o s s i b l e a n d n o t h i n g c a n s t o p y o u . ”

In 2018, when Siya and his school team compiled their market research, they realised that selling art work was a niche market and so they decided to diversify by starting a tuckshop business. Siya Became a Deputy General manager and was responsible for the production team. He says this role developed both his leadership and his communication skills.

THANK YOU The EEESAY project would not be possible without the support of both the Department of Education and a number of organisations who are willing to invest in quality learning for South African youth. We thank the following organisations:

The European Union Delegation to South Africa The Department of Education Van Neste Foundation

The Marr Munning Trust D G Murray Trust Social Capital Foundation