Class of 2010 Honoured

People have the power to change the world and it is teachers who inspire those people.

This was former school teacher and children’s rights campaigner Graça Machel’s message to this year’s TEACH South Africa Ambassadors, at a dinner held in their honour. On the night, each TEACH Ambassador received a certificate recognising his or her completing the orientation programme at the TEACH South Africa Training Academy.

The dinner was held at the Barloworld offices in Johannesburg on Friday night, January 29, 2010, and was attended by more than 100 people.

Machel, who delivered the dinner’s keynote address, congratulated the TEACH South Africa founders on their “extraordinary initiative”.

“It takes someone with inner strength to see his/her vision through to fruition,” Machel said. “Thank you for your courage.”

Speaking to the 39 TEACH Ambassadors, Machel encouraged them to be part of a movement for positive change by inspiring their students.

“You have the privilege of sowing the seeds of scientific curiosity among the youth,” she said. “There are two important types of people in the lives of any learner; the parents and the teacher. If you master your ability to relate to the young, then you will have young people who have the tools, and are ready, to face the challenges of the productive world.

“If you do not, you will have people who can memorise and repeat, but who will not have the tools to question, or even invent.

“Teachers play a major role in the development of our society. South Africa is at a crossroad. Millions of our young people, as we can see from the matric results of last year, are not succeeding. You have to inspire, to motivate. You have to pass on the knowledge you have and make sure you motivate your learners. Every one of us, even old people like me, have one teacher who made a mark on our lives. Hopefully you will be one of these teachers. We congratulate you for having chosen to be part of this movement.”

Machel emphasised the responsibility TEACH Ambassadors faced, pointing out that school-going children spend more time with their teachers than with their parents.

“Speaking as a parent, and as a grandmother, we put all our trust in you when we send our children to school,” said Machel.

“I encourage you to interact with the parents to determine what their expectations are of you.”

As a final request, Machel asked the TEACH Ambassadors to remember that theirs was a grave responsibility, with the power to make a very real positive change.

“Have the courage to inspire those you teach, so that in 20, 30 or 40 years’ time, we see the country we are hoping for,” she said.

Clive Thomson, chief executive officer of Barloworld and one of TEACH South Africa’s benefactors, agreed with Machel.

“What a great thing you are doing and what a great ability you have to make a difference,” he said to the TEACH Ambassadors. “I would like to salute each and every one of you.”

“When I think of the challenges facing South Africa, which are many, I resonate what was said previously. The area in which we can make the biggest difference is education.

“I am tremendously proud to be hosting this dinner, and of TEACH South Africa, for making a difference in this wonderful country.”