Senior education specialist in values and education, Bethuel Malebe invited Ekurhuleni News to be part of their extensive moment as their welcomed the four selected learners from Edenridge High School namely, Paballo Kotyana (15), Zipho Mjongile (15), Emihle Xinindlu (14), and Inga Ngcani (16) in Katlehong to go and represent South Africa in France.
The Department of Education (Ekurhuleni South District) and the Valued Citizens Initiative organised this trip for the active participants of the programmes led by Malebe that deal with extra curriculum activities under education support.
“I am responsible for the multiple extra curriculum activities which include accommodating learners from grade R-11. They include public speaking, poetry, and writing skills. They advocate in the relation of embracing the constitution, advocating for dignity values, equality, and respect,” said Malebe.
The Valued Citizens Initiative’s (NPO) coordinator Carol Podetti mentioned that the initiative has three pillars composed of different programmes and the one that took the learners to France is the Sondela programme that is focused on citizenship education, how to engage in social ills, learning about the constitution first, and learn about who you are.
“It is three years now that we have started the programme in Edenridge High School. We have other learners now that are in matric and the selected four learners are our new grade nines. We had to choose from 34 learners and Mr Malinga from the school never disappoints,” said Carol.
The four learners were invited to the Copain du Monde, a movement for children to act as citizens on matters that are close to their hearts.
“They have numerous programmes such as gardening, sport, indigenous games, and they represented Gauteng on numerous occasions, and they have conquered the national crown in various competitions”.
Sharing their experience in France, Emihle mentioned that she fell in love with their language and technology.
“I love how they respect their law and environment. In Paris, they make sure that in one palace they have 20 bins and that is to make sure that they stay in a clean environment,” added Paballo.
Malebe ended by saying, “As the Ekurhuleni South District, we are very much proud of the learners, and we wish that most of the schools can participate in various programmes that are offered within the school environment because there are plenty of opportunities outside the curriculum. We are so proud to have utilized the opportunity of going abroad. Not everyone can be afforded such opportunities”.
By Simphiwe Nkosi
