Joburg kids dominate Afrika Tikkun Spelling Bee
JOBURG children dominated the Afrika Tikkun Spelling Bee Championships, with all four winners hailing from that city after competing with their counterparts from Cape Town.
The competition, organised by the non-profit organisation to encourage literacy, academic excellence and a competitive spirit among township children, was held at Arekopaneng Centre in Orange Farm, Gauteng.
The four winners were: Thabiso Manamela (7-9 years category), Ayanda Baloyi (10-12), Eza Mpalisa (13-15) and Nqobile Mazibuko (16-18), who are all from Gauteng.
Their prizes included educational books such as encyclopaedias and dictionaries, tablets, Bananagrams games and Scrabble games.
Afrika Tikkun spokesperson Catherine Sofianos said their victories had come after studying and practising spelling for the better part of two terms. Contestants start preparing for the spelling competition in July and went through an elimination stage at township centres in Cape Town and Joburg.
Qualifying finalists come together to compete in the Spelling Bee Championship final. Afrika Tikkun used a list of words provided by the National Department of Education for the competition, said Sofianos.
“For us it’s about developing the spirit of competition and about improving and encouraging literacy and academic excellence. So many young people in the townships have unlimited potential and our mission is to allow them every opportunity to be the best they can be,” she added.
Competition judge Ewout Engelbrecht said: “I was very lucky to be part of the whole thing. It was very humbling to see the effort the children put in. There were a couple of words that I had no idea how to spell, so kudos to them.”
Afrika Tikkun marketing and development group executive Onyi Nwaneri said: “We are looking for a general improvement in literacy levels.”
Career counsellor Warren Radebe said: “It’s important that young people still dream of winning. It encourages the spirit of competition and it gives a real sense of achievement.”