Teacher who burns to make a difference
ON the day that Sumayyah Wariawa first walked into her classroom at Liverpool Secondary School in Actonville on the East Rand, she was struck by its “drab, dull and depressing” atmosphere.
But she did not let it get her down — just weeks after her appointment, she decided to get sponsorship to revamp the classroom.
Wariawa, who has been a teacher for 11 years, spent the past eight years teaching at Mayville Primary School in Leytonstone, London.
She said she could not turn a blind eye to the grim surroundings at Liverpool Secondary and how they affected her pupils.
“When I was revamping my classroom, I went into the girls’ toilet room to wash my hands. I was horrified at the state it was in and thought to myself I would not let my child use a toilet like this.
“The toilet rooms became my next project and I met with businesses to discuss how they could help,” said the English and history teacher.
She said in no time she had found sponsors and the toilets got a revamp.
Wariawa has not stopped there. She has secured funding for a media room with 20 computers and a library. She is now raising sponsorship for sporting equipment and improving the sports ground.
“Companies are keen to help and I’m thrilled that the children have started to change the way they think.
“The majority of them come from low socioeconomic backgrounds and thought their chances of becoming doctors, lawyers and engineers were pipe dreams. It’s my passion for teaching and my pupils that inspire me to do what I do,” said Wariawa.
She has also started a Facebook page to record all the development at the school as well as the achievements of her pupils — to teach them the “sky is not the limit”.
School principal Prem Maharaj said he hoped Wariawa’s enthusiasm encourages other teachers to do the same. “Our pupils have great potential and it’s because of the dedication of the teachers. Sumayyah’s efforts have been exceptional.”