Yesterday was our prize giving. And let me assure you, it was a prize giving like you've never seen before! The afternoon started with a series of songs, dances, poems and speeches done by the pupils. 
Then we had a speaker, a woman my age, who was one of the first students to go through the Mitzvah School. She spoke so well, and directly to the students - how she knows about their lives in Alex, she had the same up bringing and hardships, and yet, here she is, so successful, due to a combination of hard work, and SA being the land of opportunity! She said very firmly, that poverty is no longer an excuse to not do well in life!
Then we had a speaker, a woman my age, who was one of the first students to go through the Mitzvah School. She spoke so well, and directly to the students - how she knows about their lives in Alex, she had the same up bringing and hardships, and yet, here she is, so successful, due to a combination of hard work, and SA being the land of opportunity! She said very firmly, that poverty is no longer an excuse to not do well in life!
Then all the prizes were handed out. It is always agony for me to decide on who should get a prize (other than the top student, that's easy!), and I always feel like I've let someone down by not choosing them. Anyway, the maths prizes were not the highlight of the afternoon (I know you can't believe it, but it's true!!). Rather, one of our boys who is a Geography boff has been given a scholarship to study town planning, with his tuition in first year paid for, as well as tuition and work experience for his second year. This boy's mother was so over-whelmed that once the bursary was awarded she went up to the stage, and weeping, threw her arms around the man who awarded the bursary. Well, there was hardly a dry eye in the house!
The school was also so lucky to have been given four bursaries from Boston College (3 x R10 000 and 1 x R15 000!) which were awarded to some top achievers. Boston is fantastic as it offers heaps of short courses which, if not these pupil's final destination, is an incredible start to their lives! Lastly, our dux scholar was awarded a full bursary from a company called ZenProp, which covers tuition, books and a living allowance for 3 years for the course of her choice!! Itumeleng, who received the prize, is such a hard worker and has been so determined this whole year, that I really hope that she manages University. She has all the right ingredients!
What an inspiring and quite overwhelming afternoon! Once again, I wish more of you out there could experience this slice of South Africa which fills my heart with JOY and HOPE!!
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