Alex youngsters receive free tutoring, despite not having food
ALEXANDRA - Alexandra schoolchildren receive free tutoring from university students who want to see less school drop outs in the community.
Siyabulela Mokebe, together with 11 of his friends take time from their studies every Saturday morning to tutor schoolchildren from schools around Alex in mathematics, physical sciences and life sciences in order to do well in school.
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This initiative began in 2015 and has since gained popularity among the young ones. Today, about 147 fill Realogile High School classrooms, are eager to learn.
“As an aspiring teacher, I get a sense of pride knowing that I contribute positively to the future of young people,” Mokebe, who started the initiative, said.
He said that, as a group, they wanted to have an impact on each and every child in Alex. But, he said, of course, problems are everywhere.
“The problem is that we don’t give them food and that contributed to us losing a lot of children. They see more established organisations offering food to other children and they stop coming, forgetting that we are only students and the best we can offer is education,” said Mokebe.
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He said that the gratitude from the young ones is motivation enough for him to wake up every Saturday morning and go to see them.
“Having people whom I have tutored before come to me and say ‘thank you for what you have done’ is the most wonderful feeling ever.”
Through the tutoring sessions, Mokebe’s main objective is to decrease the number of high school dropouts among young people.
“We want to motivate them so that they can work hard and make something of their lives.”
He pleads with anyone who can donate food parcels for the young ones to help them.
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Details: Siyabulela Mokebe 061 139 5902.
