Stellenbosch University
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Back To School Initiative
Author: Candidate Officer Ntombi Caroline Seziba
Published: 25/02/2016

​​On 29 January 2016, the Military Academy students teamed up with Arcelor Mittal, Saldanha Bay Municipality, Department of Health, Trailblazers and SAPS Cluster for the yearly Back to School initiative. 

 

The Military Academy is doing its best to help the local community by means of community interaction each year. The student body of the Military Academy is committed to better the lives of the less fortunate and this is done through a committee called "Masiza".  Masiza is derived from a Zulu word, which means "to help".  The aim of Masiza is to enhance the social responsibility of the Military Academy towards the society at large.

 

Once the year starts, before tests and assignments, the Military Academy students come together and donate funds for the Back to School Initiative.  This is a way to engage with the community and ensuring that our community is looked after properly.  This year, the partners bought shoes for the recipients; the Military Academy students bought school uniform and the SAPS provided transport for the school children to Diazville High School. The Back to School Initiative has been one of the highlights of the year for thus far.

 

The MC of the day, Ms Lebo Mokete from Arcelor Mittal, started the event with upbeat energy and enthusiasm.  She welcomed the guest speakers and recipients of the day. The recipients came from the local schools in Saldanha, which are St Andrew Primary School, Diazville Primary School and Diazville High School.  They were collected from their schools with the teachers accompanying them to the event, and one could just feel their excitement about what was to unfold.  Ms Lebo Mokete, Mrs Eunice Adonise and the Commandant Military Academy, Brigadier General Lawrence Mbatha did the honours of handing over the uniforms and school shoes to the different learners. The students of the Military Academy also assisted the shareholders in handing out the uniforms. When asking the children about how they felt about the uniforms received, most said they were very happy.

                                                                                                                                                      

Everyone was also inspired by the motivational speakers of the day and Brigadier General Mbatha, who gave words of wisdom and urged the young children to consider the SANDF a future career.  This event has been inspired by the words of a nobleman, Mr Nelson Mandela who said "it is in your hands to create a better world for all who live in it".  These words reminded everyone where they came from and where they are going - as leaders of the community they must be the change everyone wants to see in the world, the trailblazers for the future generation of Saldanha and the whole of South Africa.

 

The Military Academy would like to thank all the principals of all the schools they invited to the Back to School initiative and also to Mr Cliffie Vraagom who accommodated them to make the event possible. A special word of thanks is extended to all the companies who partnered with Masiza and participated in the success. Back to School_Two.jpg

Author: Candidate Officer Ntombi Caroline Seziba

Photos: Midshipman W.C. Mkhonza