15 JUNE 2022, PHILIPPI, Cape Town
In commemoration of Youth Day and Youth Month this year’s theme, promoting sustainable livelihoods and resilience of young people for a better tomorrow, calling to action youth and adolescents to forge resilience and pursue opportunities for a sustainable livelihood. One hero has answered the call to change the lives of many. Luvuyo Morosi is the first of the unsung heroes to be featured in the #BeMyHero #ChangeTheFuture campaign launching on Youth Day 2022.
Luvuyo matriculated from Fezeka Secondary school in Gugulethu in 2013 whereafter he participated in the Shine Literacy learnership. As a volunteer, he taught Grade 2 pupils at Litha Primary school and Siyazakha Primary school how to read with comprehension. Since 2018, Luvuyo has engaged learners as a reading coach for the South African Education Project (SAEP) after-school program.
“I heard about this opportunity from a former SAEP reading coach. She insisted I apply because she believed in my skill and she also knew I was financially struggling and seeking a job that would pay me since I wasn't earning from my volunteer work at the time” Luvuyo recalls.
Nowadays, a message of inspiration and hope echoes from the halls at Vuyani Primary School in the afternoon. “Books = wisdom = freedom”. This is a practice Luvuyo instils and reinforces daily with an inspirational icebreaker to foster engagement, sharpen concentration, and promote lesson retention in learners participating in the afterschool program.
YES! I want to help a hero like Luvuyo change the future!
“The purpose of this icebreaker is precisely meant to motivate children to invest their time in reading books where they obtain knowledge which gives them the power of wisdom. Wisdom gives them the ability and capability to liberate themselves to freedom of becoming successful individuals in life” says Luvuyo.
Luvuyo has directly supported and coached more than 80 learners with reading skills and learning habits since 2018.
Research has shown there to be a more than one-million-word vocabulary gap between children who were read to and encouraged to read with understanding compared to those who have not been read to and cannot read with understanding.
This year marks the 46th anniversary of the 16 June 1976 student uprising in Soweto when young people protested against the imposition of Afrikaans as a medium of instruction during apartheid.
While we may still face challenges of poor facilities, overcrowded classrooms and overwhelmed teachers, the time has come to celebrate those who are making a difference and working to educate towards a brighter future.
Education remains one of the key avenues through which the Government is involved in the economy. In preparing individuals for future engagement in the labour market, policy choices and decisions in the sphere of education play a critical role in determining the extent to which future economic and poverty reduction plans can be realised.
Since the Soweto uprising in 1976, South Africa now has a Constitution (Section 28) granting youth and adolescents access to basic nutrition, shelter, health care and social services or appropriate alternative care, such as access to an afterschool program providing access to learning, nutrition and psychosocial support.
The Children’s Act (Act 38 of 2005) as amended in 2010 makes provision for organisations and campaigns to provide supporting information and services available to families to promote the wellbeing of children. Moreover, The Municipality Systems Act (Act 32 of 2000) mandates Municipalities to realize children’s rights and there are provisions for municipalities to initiate, support, monitor and evaluate the implementation of interventions at a municipal level. (RSA, 2015).
Chief Executive Officer, Donavan Fullard, says "SAEP is supporting Western Cape Education Department (WCED) and the City of Cape Town to achieve their objectives for improved reading and literacy outcomes".
The time to celebrate true heroes is now and we are starting with Luvuyo Morosi's powerful mantra "Books = Wisdom = Freedom"
YES! I want to help a hero like Luvuyo change the future!
MEDIA CONTACTS:
Campaign or Hero related queries:
Mr Shane Everts, Head of Communications and Fundraising, South African Education Project (SAEP) 082 537 8721, shane@saep.org
Technical Education related queries:
Mr Donavan Fullard, Chief Executive Officer, South African Education Project (SAEP) donavan@saep.org
MORE ABOUT SAEP
A multi-cohort program promoting access and better education outcomes among children and young adolescents in Philippi. www.saep.org