Weekend Argus (Saturday Edition)
School gives hope to Karoo youngsters
A school for youngsters who find it difficult to adapt to an academic curriculum and educational environment opened its doors in the remote Great Karoo town of Prince Albert on Monday.
The Prince Albert Skills School was established as a direct result of the documentary Eerstewater, written and produced by film-maker, author and management consultant Hélène Smit, a resident of the town. Thirteen teenage boys between the ages of 13 and 18 were enrolled.
Eerstewater, based on the book Beneath, by Smit and film-maker Pluto Panoussis of the Open Window Film School in Centurion, Gauteng, premiered in June and was shown in theatres countrywide.
It explores the effect on ordinary people of their ability – or inability – to reach their full potential. Residents of Prince Albert were used as “actors” in the documentary.
In the film, teenager Henry Prins talks of his marginalised life and the way in which he often roams around aimlessly.
Years ago, he befriended Wilfred Maarman, who suffers from physical underdevelopment and brain damage.
Henry tells a story of hardship, of abuse and a life without goals.
Maarman started following Prins around, with Prins taking on the role of Maarman’s protector. The plight of these two boys inspired Smit’s father, James, to raise questions about possible educational prospects for them. “These two should be in school,” he said.
“It was heart-breaking that Henry and Wilfred had nothing to look forward to.
“And we thought it unacceptable to move around in a community, shooting a film and then leave, without giving back hope and practical solutions where necessary.”
Smit started raising funds for a school and identified youngsters who could benefit from it. The Prince Albert Pathway out of Poverty Centre in the suburb of Northend serves as classroom and Rodine Barends was appointed school co-ordinator. She is assisted by Smit and Bodo Wenz, another Prince Albert resident. Wenz, a chef, has a home restaurant in town.
“We have enough funds to keep the school going for a year. Many people contributed towards the cause and Dame Linda Dobbs, a retired British judge, was one of the first sponsors to assist at least one student financially for a year.”
The cost of keeping the school up and running, paying salaries and buying food and educational aids, amounts to R2 000 per student per month.
“We asked the students about their interests and they indicated they would like to attend classes in, among others, cookery, welding, woodwork, photography and motor car mechanics. Skilled people from the environment have offered to assist with this, free of charge. We also want to improve our students’ language and writing abilities, as well as music appreciation,” Smit said.
“Our approach is it takes an entire town to educate one child. We refuse to leave these children behind. They have the same right as everybody else to develop into skilled, productive, functional and economic independent individuals.”
Anyone who would like to offer educational help can email Smit at helene@depthleadership.co.za or Rodine at rodinemaxine@gmail.com.