Helping Elementary School Students in
South Africa
Imagine a child who can't go to school
because she doesn't have adequate shoes or clothes for the
winter. This is a reality for some students in South Africa,
where their school is as lacking as their home environment
is. When Tzu Chi volunteers discovered this school, they were
determined to help. On their second visit, they gave students
material supplies to improve their education. Tzu Chi volunteers
are no strangers to South Africa. They have been holding winter
relief distributions in this country for over a decade. This
year, because of the high unemployment rate, they held a larger
distribution that helped over 7,000 families.
Impoverished learning environment
The beautiful voices of school children
in Johannesburg are like treasure to the ears of their visitors.
The joyful music they make doesn't reveal the impoverished
environment they live in. The classroom in their school is
extremely rundown and poorly equipped. There are no desks
and only a few broken chairs. The windows are broken as well,
exposing the students to the bitter winters and the elements.
The one thing that has lifted the spirits of the class is
the relationship between the children and Tzu Chi volunteers
in South Africa. The smiles and relief items volunteers consistently
bring to the children warm the chilly winters here.
This is Bapsfontein Primary School, located
80 kilometers away from the city of Johannesburg. More than
200 of the students who attend the school come from unemployed
or homeless families. The entire area is stricken with poverty.
The government provides welfare and gives every child 9 years
old and under a monthly aid of 170 South African Rand, or
about 25 US dollars. Many students don't have clothes besides
their school uniforms and nothing to protect them from cold
weather. The school principal, Anna, says there should be
250 students in attendance. Some do not come on cold days
because they don't have shoes or warm clothing to wear.
School supplies for students
One volunteer recounted that on her
first visit, children were lying on the floor to write because
there were no desks. Volunteers were heart-broken to see them
like this and wanted to improve the school environment. On
the second visit, volunteers brought school bags, pens, pencils,
chalk, and winter clothes. They gave school bags to each child
along with personal encouragement; a pat on the shoulder,
or a touch on their face to let them know people care. The
volunteers hope the school supplies will make a difference
in the quality of the children's education. Many of the children
can't help staring at their new supplies. These are gifts
that they never dreamed of actually having.
Edited from Da Ai (Great Love) News,
a broadcast program of Tzu Chi's television station. For more
information on Tzu Chi's Da Ai TV, please visit http://www.newdaai.tv.
