Educate a South African Child Experiencing Poverty

Like many of our students, Kristen’s early childhood education was interrupted by deprivation and family obligations. Even at a young age, she was burdened with looking after her younger siblings and trying to help her family survive. 

When she began attending Christel House, Kristen struggled with scars of anger and frustration from her childhood. For her, Christel House quickly became a place of hope and healing.

 “The teachers and other kids were very kind, like family,” Kristen reflects.  “At this school, I learned how to deal with what I had been feeling.”

While attending Christel House, Kristen was introduced to fencing. She used the sport as a method to channel her frustration and overcome her past. She flourished and competed nationally and internationally.

After graduating from Christel House in 2010, she began a Bachelor’s degree in Sports, Recreation and Exercise Science at the University of the Western Cape.  She put her studies on hold temporarily to participate in a professional coaching course in Dakar, Senegal.  She is now a “Master Coach in Arms” and one of only four fencing coaches in South Africa.  She is also certified by the Fencing Federation to coach anywhere in the world. 

“My aim is to develop sport, specifically fencing, in my own country,” Kristen says proudly.  “I’m going to share what I’ve learned and make a real difference.”

Links:

• Christel House Website
• Christel House Blog
• Christel House Facebook

“Everyday I see so many girls my age walking around with no vision and no dreams,” writes Chandne, who is determined that she will not be one of them. At the age of eight, Chadne told her mother, “I never want to struggle like you.” True to her word, she became Christel House South Africa’s 2011 top-achieving graduate and walked away with the school’s top honor, a Christel Award. “Sometimes I just can’t believe how much I have achieved despite my background and circumstances.”

After her graduation, Chadne began studying civil engineering at Sutherland Civil Engineering. Based on performance, she will receive a bursary to assist Chadne financially while she continues her education at a university.

Chadne’s story is just one in a multitude of success stories from this year’s CHSA graduating class. This year, like the past three years, 100% of Christel House South Africa’s students passed their Matriculation exam, a graduation exam given to South African seniors. But they didn’t just pass - 70.8% achieved a “bachelor’s pass” distinction, and more than half had results good enough to secure bursaries or scholarships. Compared to South Africa’s national pass rate of 70.2% and the national bachelor’s pass rate of 24.3%, these results are outstanding.

“I can remember my first day at Christel House,” Chadne reminisces. “It was the best day ever. The teachers welcomed us with so much warmth and understanding. At CHSA I’ve learned to be a strong, positive leader. I know it’s up to me to be responsible. When people try to break my spirit with words or negative actions, I can hold my head up high. I am a strong, focused and goal-oriented person. I know what I want to accomplish in life.”

Links:

• Christel House International Website
• Christel House South Africa Website