Modderdam High School strengthens community ties for youth development

In its effort to become a centre of excellence, Modderdam High School has embarked on a journey to strengthen ties with the wider community. On Friday, August 15, the school hosted a workshop with various stakeholders to explore ways of realising this vision.

The school, in partnership with Dinaledi Leadership for Education, created a platform for dialogue with community members. Residents, non-governmental organisations, businesses, sports bodies, and others discussed strategies to help pupils develop their talents and identify opportunities for collaboration.

Principal Rona Rayray-Wanza said transforming the school requires the involvement of the entire community as part of sustainable prevention strategies. The workshop also highlighted child development initiatives as key to building stronger relationships between the school and the community.

She said that the school's vision is to become a centre of excellence, educating pupils holistically to develop them into global citizens.

"In today's world, the school needs to prepare its children to compete effectively," she said, adding that achieving this vision cannot be done in isolation.

“The school is a microcosm of the community. Today's exercise aims to inform the community about what the school offers so that they can contribute their strengths,” she said.

Ms Rayray-Wanza said the school aims to give pupils greater access to opportunities that support their holistic development. These include skills training, extracurricular activities, sports, literacy, confidence building, spiritual growth, environmental awareness, and tackling challenges such as substance abuse and gangsterism.

She said the school’s vision aligns with its long-term goals.

“We simply do not possess all the necessary skills or capacity. We are reaching out to our community members and partners for your input, support, and ideas. We would love to hear about existing initiatives in the community, ways you or your organisation can collaborate with us, and new ideas or activities that can keep learners positively engaged. We also seek practical support to address issues facing our youth, such as bullying, violence, teen pregnancy, and poor self-esteem,” she said.

Groups were formed during the workshop to discuss and propose possible solutions. It was evident that the community was eager to invest in their school and its children.

Community members highlighted the positives of their environment, mentioning political heroes like Ashley Kriel and the visit from the late former president  Nelson Mandela, which serve as sources of inspiration for young people.

She said the community's suggestions demonstrated how unity can work both ways.

“Together, we can become the change we wish to see in our school, homes, and communities. Community involvement can significantly impact helping our learners grow into confident, responsible, and empowered individuals,” she said.

Kevin Mathew from Dinaledi explained that their organisation assists school management in developing skills to operate optimally as school leaders.

“Schools face numerous challenges, each unique to their context. We engage with the community to identify skills and assets that can partner with the school in achieving its goals, making it a better functioning institution for children,” he said.