The chairperson of the Nelson Mandela Museum Board in Mthatha, Siphe Potelwa, confirmed that they had hosted a prizegiving ceremony for 10 learners who participated in the Annual Human Rights Essay Competition.
The event was held at the Nelson Mandela Museum in Qunu, last week.
Potelwa said there were 614 learners in total who entered this competition, and adjudicators selected the top ten winners, who then competed for a top three position.
These three positions were won by Faith Ntaote (17) from King Edward High School in Matatiele in first, followed by Carter-Blyke Mc Dillon (17) from Kimberley Boys’ High in the Northern Cape, and Esihle Majola (17) from Nondenisa Senior Secondary School in KwaZulu-Natal.
He added that they had taken a decision that this programme should be piloted to all provinces, through a social media call across the country.
“Learners based in Gauteng, Eastern Cape, KwaZulu-Natal, Free State, Northern Cape and Mpumalanga submitted their essays. We were impressed to see rural provinces making a presentation on the essay,” he said.
Potelwa explained that there were guidelines so that educators could be able to assist learners with their essays.
“Our theme was simplified so that even parents could also advise their children,” said Potelwa.
He added that those learners who did not win in the competition should not be demotivated.
“Sometimes we reject ourselves thinking that we are failures, not understanding that it is a method we apply that was not correct. For those who won, we encourage them to be the pioneers and the ambassadors that will preach the issue of Human Rights.”
Lecturer from Walter Sisulu University under the Faculty of Education in the Department of Adult and Community Education, Nontuthuzelo Ngubane, who was one of the adjudicators, said that as a society they have a responsibility to give the youth, young adults, students, and the learners, an opportunity to unleash their potential when they are in the classroom.
According to her, this competition starts from a school subject, which is history. One of the criteria is that students who participate must be studying history at school.
“It combines the important elements of raising the child, i.e. the teacher, parent, the school, and society. It comes to existence because the influences of this learner that he/she gets from home make him grounded at school, and to listen to this history teacher. These teachers have all the skills to train these learners and mentor them in essay writing. After that this child is able to go to competitions like the one hosted by this museum,” said Ngubane.
According to her, the issue of winning and positions is only in the mind, stating that she believed that all these 614 children who took part in this competition were all winners.
She said they saw an opportunity and used it; they must not give up. When they see another opportunity they must grab it.
Faith Ntaote (17) from King Edward High School who won the competition, said that she had worked very hard doing research, but all-in-all she put her trust in God.
“I told myself that I can do it as small as I am; I have a big voice and I am able to show the world that young individuals have a voice. You must stand for yourself and represent yourself,” said Ntaote.
