Elim Senior Secondary School is on cloud nine after five of their learners broke the record for winning altogether seven trophies and ten gold and silver medals at the 12th Funda Mzantsi Championship. The award ceremony was held in George, in the Western Cape, recently.
The event was hosted by the National Library of South Africa (NLSA), in partnership with the Department of Correctional Services (DCS) and George Municipality, under the theme 'Building Creative Minds'. More than 300 inmates battled with six community book clubs, universities, and schools from across nine provinces, competing in IsiZulu, SiSwati, IsiNdebele, Xitsonga, English and other languages. The competition included book reviews, spelling bees and debates.
This collaboration was formed after the DCS recognized the relevance of reading in the rehabilitation of offenders in 2013, aiming to foster a reading culture among South Africans.
Leaners from Elim Senior Secondary School were accompanied by three of the school's educators, who thoroughly prepared them for almost two weeks to make it to the top. The school managed to win first position in all the Xitsonga categories, and the second overall position for Tshivenda.
The five Grade 10 and 11 learners from Elim - Vutlhari Mukhensani, Phindulo Ndou, Tebogo Masuku, Tiyani Chauke, and Phuluso Matenzhe – are still trying to absorb their success. "We feel so blessed that we could represent the school. Our accomplishments were all thanks to the teachers and school leadership who assisted us with preparation for the competition in advance," said Vutlhari, who accumulated two trophies for a review on the book Dida, and a debate on whether the government is encouraging idleness by granting a R350 Sassa grant to youths.
One of the teachers at Elim Senior Secondary School, Mr Emanuel Nkanyani, said they were really proud of their learners' remarkable performance. "We have been competing in this championship since 2017. Breaking the record for winning the most prizes is a major accomplishment for us. We are overjoyed," he said.