Doing mitzvahs by giving so many people a chance

HELEN GRANGE

The school, started with the help of the Bet David congregation in Sandton, was “illegal” back then, and had only 25 students. Some of these pupils had – unbeknown to the school – been political prisoners.

The school was meant to continue only until the crisis was over, but today, it is a school with a reputation for turning the fate of hundreds of disadvantaged children around, helping them transition with a solid matric to a brighter future.

The Mitzvah School has consistently produced a pass rate of over 90 per cent. By comparison, the national average is just over 50 per cent, and some of the schools from which the students come, have pass rates as low as 12 per cent. For many of its years, the Mitzvah School has achieved a 100 per cent pass rate, a remarkable achievement considering its students are there for only one year.

This year, on Sunday 15 October, when a number of its pupils received prizes for their achievements before kicking into their matric finals, it was no ordinary prize-giving. It was a testimony to the unerring dedication, through thick and thin, of the teachers and funders who made The Mitzvah School possible.

“We’ve had a very difficult and stressful year, not least because we’ve moved to our new premises at Bet David and there’s been continual renovations here. But the resilience and commitment of our teachers and learners always pushes us through,” said school principal Lesley Rosenberg.

Past pupils also visited the school to encourage the students to make the most of this golden opportunity to get the best matric marks possible. One of them was Noko Leopeng, from the class of 1988, currently heading the Skills Development Programmes unit at City of Johannesburg.

“Live your life like it’s the second time around. Ask yourself: If I had nothing holding me back, if I had money, what would I do?” she told the learners.

“We used to blame apartheid for not succeeding. Today the excuse is often our disadvantaged economic circumstance, but being poor and black is not an excuse for not succeeding… decide today how you are going to change your future,” she said, to rousing applause.

More than 1 200 students have passed matric at the Mitzvah School. Some work in the banking and retail sector, and many study part-time to achieve their goals. One past student, Nonhlanhla Sithole, who came from an extremely deprived background, is a medical doctor today.

Another past student, Lebogang Ngobeni, attended the ceremony on October 15. He matriculated in 1996 and today is an office administrator in finance at Vodacom, as well as a Catholic minister with his own congregation in Alberton.

“I was 25 when I passed matric at Mitzvah School. I came from a very poor background in a rural area in North West Province, and in those years, I was struggling with health issues and disruptions in my education.

“I was assisted with a scholarship at Mitzvah School and when I got there, my English was very poor. But the teachers encouraged and pushed me every day, and I managed to finally pass my matric,” says Ngobeni, who went on to do computer training and a year studying divinity at Unisa. He has worked at Vodacom for over 14 years.

Teachers and staff were heartily praised by the prize-winners, including the first principal Molly Smith, Ann Markunsky, English teacher, Jean Weinstein, extra English teacher, Ruth Steiner, psychologist and Dr Marianne Felix, yoga teacher.

“Through the kindness and love of these teachers, we are able to prosper and excel,” said Nombuyiselo Tshoaedi.

The Mitzvah School was recently recognised by the Jewish Board of Deputies at their conference for the work it does.

With sponsorship from various companies and individuals, including the management and rabbi of the Bet David congregation in Sandton, the Mitzvah School continues its search for vulnerable learners in Alexandra township, to give them a fighting chance in a competitive world.

“We are also assisted by the Bet David Kehillah (Sisterhood) to help students who require food and clothing. Certain sponsors provide bursaries and we have set up a small bursary fund ourselves to help past students with tertiary education,” says Rosenberg.

Students pay a nominal monthly amount for school fees and transport. The amount they pay does not cover the monthly cost per learner (some of the learners are unable to pay at all) and the shortfall has to be covered by the school’s own fundraising efforts.

“We no longer receive a government subsidy as we have only one class and are considered an elite school.

“We are often able to find sponsorships for students who are unable to pay their school fees and these sponsors take an interest in their progress at school and sometimes even into tertiary education. We also have had a long and happy relationship with Afrika Tikkun and for many years they have sponsored the uniforms for the school,” says Rosenberg.

The Mitzvah School also runs a feeding scheme in Eighth Avenue, Alexandra, providing breakfast and lunch daily for about 200 schoolchildren as well as indigent adults in the area. The students of Mitzvah School assist to collect food monthly, by standing outside supermarkets and asking the shoppers to assist with the feeding schemes.