Dehaiden Baadjies was crowned winner of the first spelling bee competition held at the Steenvliet Library recently.
The 11-year-old learner of Steenvliet Primary School in Touwsrivier won first place in both the Afrikaans and English categories. Jamy-Leigh Kokrani took second place. The competition, the first of its kind in Touwsrivier, featured learners from two local primary schools, Steenvliet and Touwsrivier.
It aimed to help learners understand Afrikaans and English better and to improve their vocabulary. In an exclusive interview, Dehaiden, who dreams of becoming a chartered accountant, shared that it wasn’t an easy experience but that his confidence and determination helped him to win.
“I was a little anxious at first, but I improved and became more at ease with each round. I’m thrilled to have won this competition because it was my goal. The tasks I completed today helped me understand my strengths and areas for improvement in my reading and language skills,” said Dehaiden.
This was his first time competing in a spelling bee, and he is expected to defend his title next year.
Jamy-Leigh Kokrani, who will turn 12 next weekend, saw her achievement as an early birthday present. “As a shy person, it wasn’t easy to stand in front of a crowd, but I am glad I managed to overcome my anxiety. I’m happy to be among the winners, and I’m grateful to my teachers and everyone behind this wonderful event,” she said.
Steenvliet librarian Namhla Mfana praised the competition’s success, highlighting the active involvement of her colleagues and Yeboneers.
“As a team we are delighted with the competition’s outcomes,” she explained, “and we believe it will get better each year. “The initiative was not only about improving learners’ vocabulary; it was also about developing their cognitive abilities and basic reading skills.”
Mfana believes such competitions are essential for promoting a reading culture in schools, especially in disadvantaged areas such as Touwsrivier.
Next year she plans to start a reading competition to make reading fun and encourage more learners to improve their reading skills.
