City offers message of hope to youth overcoming adversity

29 March 2021

Cape Town Executive Mayor Dan Plato joined Ward 26 Councillor Franchesca Walker in acknowledging 60 learners from two well-performing high schools in Leonsdale (Elswood High and Elsies River High) on the Cape Flats, with an inspiring trip to Robben Island as a reward for their excellent matric results. Certificates of acknowledgement were given to the top achieving learners from Leonsdale. It was an educational visit paid for by Councillor Walker’s office as an upliftment initiative for these young people to see Robben Island as a symbol of hope to further motivate them to overcome the challenges of their environment.

Elswood High School achieved an 83.8 percent pass rate in 2020, up from 55 in 2019, despite the challenges of the national lockdown, crime and unemployment in their community. The matriculants also increased the number of bachelor passes, which provides a pathway to study at universities, from 12 in 2019 to 28 in 2020.

Mayor Plato shared a personal message about his childhood challenges and encouraged these learners to pursue a tertiary education.

‘These young people live in difficult environments affected by crime. Despite this, they have been able to achieve an impressive result. This is a wonderful example of how your surroundings don’t have to decide your future. My message to them is to continue their education, whether it is at a university or college and to obtain a degree or diploma. I hope the bigger message of what Robben Island represents – of overcoming great obstacles, displaying courage and never giving up, serves to motivate them even further in their future,’ said Mayor Plato.

‘This was a thank you to the young people who faced and continue to face many challenges. They put in the effort to persevere despite gangsterism; and various struggles within their homes to achieve. Some even have family members who are involved in gangs, but they are choosing a different path to create a brighter future for themselves. It was important that they see the value of the work they put in; to stay motivated,’ said Councillor Walker.

Wesley Swartz was one of the top achieving learners at Elswood High School, obtaining four distinctions and was also the Head Boy. He is currently studying Law at the University of the Western Cape.

‘We live in a community where there’s a lot of gang violence and it can make your goals much harder to achieve. The thing I struggled with the most is getting away from the mindset of thinking that where I am now, is the extent of the world. It’s making sure I achieve my goals, despite what’s going on around me and I used that as motivation. The message that I got from this visit was the value of education - that even though the political prisoners were kept here, they were hopeful and studied as a way to further their education,’ said Swartz.

Eighteen-year-old Lorcia Koopman was another of the top 10 achieving matriculants at Elswood High in Leonsdale and lived in Uitsig during her high school years.

‘I didn’t let my environment stop me from achieving what I wanted. Gang violence was happening, but I stayed focused on my books. On top of that, my parents are essential workers. My mother is a nurse and this was really challenging because of the anxiety it caused. When it comes to my future goals, I want to be successful. I’m learning about myself every day and even though I don’t know what I’m doing Iong-term just yet, I’m currently studying a TEFL course because I want to travel the world and teach once it’s possible to do so - right now that is my focus,’ said Koopman.

‘There was incredible effort to reach this result. We knew after a review of the learners what type of support was needed. Extra classes were given on Friday afternoons, Saturdays and Sundays. There was great commitment from learners and support from teachers to hone in on subjects which learners were struggling with or needed extra help with. I am very proud of these learners for their effort,’ Marlon Kiewiet, Elswood High Principal.

The group of young people got to see the cell where the late former President Nelson Mandela spent 18 years of his life, the lime quarry, the historical buildings and sites on the island for the first time.

Robben Island has undergone many changes over centuries, from being a whaling station, and then a leprosy colony in the 1800s, a World War II base for soldiers, and a prison for iconic struggle leaders and politicians. It’s final purpose as a museum is now a living symbol of hope and a global tourism highlight.

Robben Island was declared a UNESCO World Heritage site in 1999, completing its transformation from a place of oppression and suffering to a monument of the resilience and triumph of the human spirit.

Caption1: Top achieving learners from Leonsdale in Ward 26, El’-Assur Scritten (Elsies River High), Lorcia Koopman (Elswood High School), Alex-Zandre Kramm (Elswood High School), Jade Jacobs (Elsies River High), Liam Hartogh (Elsies River High School)and Wesley Swartz (Elswood High School) received a certificate of recognition before the trip to Robben Island. The learners are flanked by Cape Town Mayor Dan Plato and Ward 26 Councillor Franchesca Walker.

Caption 2: Matriculants view the memorial plaque in B-section yard next to the cells where the late former president spent 18 years.

Caption 3: Nelson Mandela’s jail cell at Robben Island

Caption 4: Matriculants, teachers and principals prepare to leave Robben Island.

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Published by:
City of Cape Town, Media Office