Staff members and learners at Mseki Primary in Gugulethu were over the moon when a representative of the National Department of Water and Sanitation handed over the certificate and an award to the winner of the Baswa le Meetse Awards (Youth in Water) on Tuesday 22 July.
The Baswa le Meetse (BLM) competition is part of the Water and Sanitation Education Programme (WSEP), culminating in a national adjudication event where learners from across the country compete in various art forms related to water and sanitation.
The aim of the competition is to educate learners about water resource management, sanitation and hygiene through artistic expression.
Grade 8 learner, Endinako Mrali was in third position at the 2024 Baswa le Meetse (Youth in Water) National Adjudication Prize competition which was held at The Lakes in Benoni hotel last year in September.
Teacher Zola Mqobongo who spearheaded the programme at the school said Mrali’s win means a lot not only to the school but to the community at large.
“Mrali entered the competition on praise poetry under the theme ‘Water is life and sanitation is dignity’. Her topic was based around the theme. Through this competition Mrali gained a lot of confidence in public speaking because she had to stand in front of the audience to present the topic. It is not only about the competition, but it also moulds the learners,” said Mqobongo.
He stated that he wants Mrali to take whatever she learnt during the competition and implement it in the community. Mrali said it’s a dream come through for her.
She said she didn’t expect that she was going to win.
“I’m very happy. I didn’t expect that I’m going to be in the top three in the country. But with God everything is possible. I’m proud of me,” she said, adding that her teacher always encourages them to believe in themselves and be strong.
The department’s coordinator Phakama Ngcanga said with the programme they hope to change the mindsets, attitude and behaviours of the learners through water use efficiency.
“Baswa le Meetse targets the intermediate learners. The programme (Baswa le Meetse) has five categories which are music, drama, poetry, praise poetry and poster. The programme starts at district level to province and to the national. All the number one winners in each category participated in Gauteng. The programme is not about the competition but to encourage schools to take initiatives about water and sanitation so the learners can go and plough back whatever they learn,” explained Ngcanga, adding that she described the competition as an annual event.
Mrali’s father Masthembe Mqoto said his daughter’s win caught him by surprise. He said he couldn’t believe it when her teacher told him that his daughter is going to represent the province in Gauteng.
“I know Endinako is a quiet person. She doesn’t talk too much. Her going to Gauteng surprised me. Even when she won in the province I was surprised,” said Mrali.
He described Endinako as a reserved person, but she likes her books.
