On the evening of 16 April 2021, the business community of Mabopane, will honor the Matric Class of 2020 at an event hosted at Mzansi Resort (formerly known as Morula Sun). The learners, who are mostly from schools located in Mabopane and surrounding areas, have shown true grit during the COVID-19 pandemic. These learners not only overcame the challenges that were brought about by studying at home, during a pandemic, but they also excelled remarkably by achieving average scores between 80% and 100%, amongst the twenty learners to be honored.
Idah Rakale, who is the founding member of the non-profit organisation, Atlegang Community Project, conceptualized Idah’s Academic Awards in 2016 when she realized the importance of acknowledging and motivating students who excel under the toughest of circumstances. Being an entrepreneur and community leader she was compelled to call on fellow entrepreneurs and business persons within the Mabopane Network Forum. The forum which consists mainly of persons who emanate from Mabopane has supported this initiative diligently for the past 6 years.
Each year, the Atlegang Community Project determines ways to exceed their previous success, and 2020 was no different. When the COVID-19 pandemic hit South Africa and forced it into lockdown, the South African education system was affected in unimaginable ways.
Ms Rakale said, “It was something that could not be anticipated that learners would find themselves at home, expected to continue their education by logging in to online classes. Most of these students did not have computers, let alone access to the internet. “
It was with the generous sponsorship of Mr Phatudi Maponya, a long-standing member of the Mabopane Network Forum, that selected learners were donated laptops and tablets for their education.
Mr Phatudi said “Other members provided much needed financial support and resources to assist the learners with their studies and any other challenges that they could be experiencing. It is the diligent contributions of our local entrepreneurs that made 2020 a tolerable year for our learners and I know that we will continue in this trajectory over the next couple of years.”
The event will take place on Friday, 16 April 2021 from 20h00, at the Mzansi Resort (formerly known as Morula Sun) sponsored by Mr Eugene Modise of the Eugene Modise Foundation, also a member of the Mabopane Network Forum.
