Themba Mnisi manages the internet centre and laboratory at the Leboneng Education Centre in Namakgale. Themba is particularly proud of the well-equipped laboratory that the learners use mostly over weekends to experiment with the weird and wonderful in the world of science. He makes sure the equipment stays in good shape and they have what
There’s a light that comes on inside Jacob obejane when he talks about mathematics, science and children. His face brightens, his eyes sparkle and the more he says, the faster he speaks. It is not surprising therefore, to hear that since the introduction of the Master Maths Programme in 1998, more than 70 learners achieved distinctions
From cleaner to administrative clerk in nine years is how Emily Mhlarhi (35) defines her career path at the Palabora Foundation. And she has no intention of slowing down. With one subject left to finalise Level 6 of the National Qualification Framework – Emily hopes to enrol with UNISA’s Diploma in Office Management Programme within
Bongi* is three years old and loves anything with wheels. He has one small, metal car with rubber wheels, which he carries everywhere he goes. Bongi’s mother, Flora, works at a clothes shop in town and she drops Bongi off at one of the Palabora Foundation’s early learning centres on her way to work each morning.
Thabang*, 20, is unemployed. He dreams of running his own company but has no idea how to go about it. Thabang wants to learn carpentry, as he already has some skill in the basics of making furniture. He hopes he can start a small business and marry his girlfriend Maria, whose family is concerned about
Tumi* is a bright 14-year-old learner from a rural village about 20km outside Phalaborwa town. His family can afford to send him to a rural high school but they have no local library and no internet service. His prospects of attending university are slim due to the family’s financial circumstances and the rural school’s inability to
Kedibone* is 12 years old and looks after her two younger siblings instead of attending school. Their mother died from tuberculosis last year and their father disappeared years ago. Kedibone and her siblings scavenged the local rubbish dump for food and clothing until recently, when the Palabora Foundation came to their village and identified them as
When Sophie* began to suspect that she had HIV, she avoided being tested because she knew she would be shunned by her community if they found out. When the ravages of her disease became apparent to her husband, he left her even though he was the most likely source of her HIV infection. Sophie died
