We often share about the wonderful children of Christel House. This time, we wanted to share the story of one of our educators in South Africa who shared her story with us...

Name: Faheema Harris
School: Christel House South Africa
Grades/Subjects: Physical Science for grades 10-12, Mathematics for grades 8-9

She writes...

The 26th of November 2008 must be on of the most memorable days of my life. It was the day I wrote my Maths final, the day I went to say farewell to my parents who were immigrating and it is the day I accepted a job offer to teach at Christel House SA.

For the past 12 years I had taught at 3 government schools. Educators at these schools are overworked, the classes are overcrowded and they do not always have the opportunity to get to know their learners. Some teach just to pass time, others are so stressed out that they end up in Clinic, and many resort to physical and verbal abuse of learners. Fortunately there are also those who are trying to make a difference, the hard workers who often hit a brick wall but refuse to give up....the ones who still regard teaching as a calling.

For me, it was a difficult decision to leave my comfort zone and move to a foreign environment. When I asked my husband (who has been an educator at Christel House for 3 years) to help me make my decision his reply was, "It is your decision. It is not something I can explain, it is something you need to experience for yourself"...and what an experience it has been.

During the first three months (at the old premises), if there was not a classroom available I would teach in the School Hall and when the Hall was not available I would teach outside under a tree. What amazed me was that the learners never complained. They were so grateful and excited to be at the school. They were and still are so eager to learn. I often refer to them as sponges, ready and eager to take in and absorb your every word. These learners are dedicated, hard working and are extremely goal oriented.

I work with an amazing bunch of people who are very supportive and who will go the extra mile for one another and the learners. Staff who offer up their free time, including weekends and holidays, to come in and assist the learners. Educators who treat learners with respect and who are constantly encouraging them to excel. Staff who are not judgmental and who take the time to get to know their learners. Learners are allowed to voice their opinions and these opinions are respected. These leadership qualities of learners are encouraged by all staff. Even though we are way behind government schools in terms of technology, the educators make the best of what they have available. It is heartwarming to know that in these trying times, there are still people out there who want to make a difference in the lives of children.

One cannot help but be humbled and saddened when you hear what some of our learners experience in their daily lives. For the past week I had noticed that the appearance of a learner...let's call him "Ben"...had deteriorated significantly. I had spoken to him about his uniform. His shirt was not clean, he needed a haircut, he was wearing takkies and I had noticed that he had been wearing the same long-sleeved t-shirt under his school shirt for the past two days. While standing at the bus stop he told me that he was not looking forward to the weekend. It was pay day and he knew that his parents had finished work early. He also knew that they would not be home when he got there and that they would be out drinking. He would then have to go ask his neighbors and friends for food so that he could feed his younger brother and niece. He confessed that he eats a lot at school because at night he feeds his siblings first and if there is anything left, he eats. To be at a school like Christel House is the answer to many of his prayers. He knows that here he will receive good education, he will be fed and the staff will listen and assist him wherever possible. He knows that he can tell his story and he will not be judged by anyone and that he is surrounded by people who care. It's Monday now and "Ben" is back at school with a smile on his face. he knows that here he can be a child again, play soccer with his friends, focus on school and forget about his problems at home.

Christel House is a gem for learners and educators alike. We look forward to a long and productive future here. We appreciate the opportunity greatly and all those who support it.

Labels: math, science, South Africa, teacher, testimonial