Making a change in a learner's life.

This weeks Friday feature goes to Wood mining which is one of our sponsors that has helped change a couple of our learner's lives. This article is based on a story from one of our beneficiaries, Kamogelo Masetloa , who was sponsored by wood mining, making a huge impact and creating a great leader.

Kamogelo is very passionate about education. Grown up as he is now, this young man never forgets where he comes from. He has been with the Tomorrow Trust Holiday School Programme since grade 1. He now finishes his matric proud and ready to face life after matric. Kamogelo attended high School at Ingqayizivele Secondary. His journey with Tomorrow Trust has been magnificent.?Knowing Him from an early age and him behaving like any other young boy would do, In the Junior Programme he was also naughty and playful in class and when with friends. “According to Kamogelo, back in his primary years it was all about fun and games. He was just there for playing games and having fun with my friends. Waiting only for the last day of the programme which was for Christmas party day where they got gifts”. ?“For Him school was the last thing on his mind then”.

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We got to see a different side of him when he got to grade 8 in 2018. It was clear that He learned so many things during his time in the Junior programme. Getting to high school and graduating into the Senior programme at Tomorrow Trust he changed, and his leadership skills emerged. He was nominated to became part of the Representative Council of Learners at his school in grade 9. His marks started improving getting him academic awards in grade 8 and 9. He participated in everything the programme implemented for their group (Chess, camps, workshops, and job shadowing. He learned to play Chess for the first time in grade 9.?He adapted to the game quickly and became a mastermind. It helped him a lot on his studies because it made easy for him to think creatively and solve problems he is facing in life and academics. Kamogelo went on and won chess tournament that was scheduled for the grade 8 and 9 Tomorrow Trust Holiday School Programme chess players.

Moving to grade 10 to 12 he felt challenged because now academically things changed, he met new concepts changing things from what he was used to at primary and in grade 8 and 9. It was a transition challenge. In 2020 Covid19 hit, and he experienced some mental health issues after losing his mother, and This was a very difficult time for him. It was not easy to focus on anything. At some stage he kept himself to himself. With a help of TLT programme, mentor and mentee sessions that helped him get through this tough times. The In-house Psychologists also facilitated workshops around metal health and other topics around mental health issues. This also helped improve his well-being. In grade 10 and 11 his performance wasn’t looking good. The programme assisted and implemented online lessons on zoom to keep them going with academics. He attended these online sessions accordingly, participating, asking questions, and assisting his peers’ where they couldn’t understand certain concepts.

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In Grade 12 The Programme gave him tutoring sessions that ran during the week and on Sundays on zoom by a former Holiday School Programme learner who passed her matric well with distinctions in all her subjects. The former learner who helped him is now at wits furthering her studies in Applied Chemistry and Human Physiology.

Pushing himself hard from his life challenges he started getting himself in the top 10, receiving academic awards at his school and here in the programme. Kamogelo passed his matric well with good marks and no subjects was below 60% from his Grade 12 results. He got 71% in Physical science, 72% Life Science, 76% English and 72% in Mathematics. He is currently taking a gap and working as a coordinator in the Holiday school programme. He also tutors the current programme grade 12 learners On Sundays. He believes in giving back what was also given to him, a gift of life education a tool to success. He is a role model to some of the grade 12 learners in his community where he comes because. Them Believing in him he has a group of 10 Grade 12 learners in his community that he tutors mathematics and Physical Science.?He is very vocal and always willing to challenge himself more.

He has applied at Wits to do Actuarial Science next year in 2024, and this career field because he loves Mathematics so much. There are so many things he learned in the programme some which mentally build and prepared him for life after Grade 12. The main highlight from his side was the boys camp he attended in grade 9. The camp focused on a development of a boy child creating awareness on issues around, rape, abuse and how men should behave and treat themselves around women.?The journey has been nothing but a great experience, filled with so much exposure to things, learning and teaching others and making new friends which he matriculated with in 2022. He is never afraid to take on a challenge or a difficult task one tasks him with. In the programme learners warm up to him because he motivates them every week about the ups and downs of school and life. He articulates himself very well all time, with kindness and respective himself and for others. Wood Mining played a major role in he's education Journey. Today he finished Matric with good Marks and now assisting other learners who are currently battling in Grade 12 to also realise their full potential.