Lingua-World gives back

The future begins today!
They say “knowledge is power” but for some, less fortunate, it is a privilege that is never realised. In this instance it would be the disadvantaged children scattered all over Soweto.
Although Soweto is a place of booming business opportunities, there is far more that can be done when it comes to the accessibility of information especially to those who need it the most – children between 5 and 10 years of age. They are at a crucial developmental stage, where they constantly absorb information at amazing speeds. This, in turn, leads to the expansion and broadening of their imagination and way of thinking which in turn can positively impact their futures. And this does not end with them; it has the ability to become a culture that progresses through a multitude of generations and ultimately turns into an inherent character of a people and community.

But the opposite happens when a search for knowledge leads to a dead end because of a lack of equipment or when the equipment is available, only a handful of individuals understand how it used. This limits the thinking of a child and cripples their minds. It often produces narrow minded adults who do not possess the ability to stretch their minds beyond what they have seen and experienced, therefore not driving them in order to seek more from life. This would also be passed down from generation to generation and ultimately lead to a tragic end.
Unfortunately these are some of the issues that are currently occuring in Soweto. The children are often given assignments; projects and research papers to do at home but are referred to the libraries that, at times, keep books that are so outdated that the information within is horribly inaccurate and useless. You can imagine how the same children must feel when they have to compete with their peers that have access to the latest models of computers that have internet, both at school and at home.

Yet it seems the only way to understand and appreciate light is when darkness surrounds it. And this light comes in the form of a Christian based organisation called YAM (Youth Alive Ministries) that is located in Dube, Soweto. This humble institution finds its essence in the service of people, especially the young, which come Monday – Friday to be assisted with their school work and, on Saturdays to partake in life skills programmes and have their weekly dose of fun. This exceptional organisation believe in doing what they can, with what they have. This, has sustained them for over 50 years in service. However, after all these praiseworthy services, they endured an enormous hurdle of using one computer for all the communications that need to be sent and received for the day-to-day running of the organisation and helping the countless children that are also able to use it for school research papers; assignments and projects.

Last year, in November, YAM have encountered an individual that was truly heaven sent – Nelly Kostadinova. This phenomenal woman, after visiting this organisation thought that they too, were amazing. She spent an entire Saturday making a difference in the children’s lives, by giving of her valuable time in order to meet and learn about these children . What Nelly found here truly touched her. These young minds despite all the adversities they face daily, still find a way of hoping and seeking a better and brighter future for themselves. To re- write history’s pages and leave a legacy for the ones that will come after them. Their energy was infectious and making a difference is important to her. So, she found out the difficulties of the organisation and tried tirelessly to lend a helping hand.

Nelly imagined a valuable idea that began with an end in mind. Giving of her time was not enough; she had to make a tangible change that did not depend on her presence to be successful. So, she made a promise to donate computers for the children to help them not only to advance them in their school work, but enhance the medium through which they gather their knowledge. And so Nelly left with a promise and expectations to fulfil. On the 16th of March 2013 ,she delivered on her promise and fulfilled the all the children’s expectations.

These computers are currently set up at YAM and are fully functional for the children. The children stand a chance now to be able to succeed. They have been given an opportunity to be on a par with their peers. Since knowledge is transferable, they will begin a long line of descendants that pride themselves in knowledge that breed generations of informed future leaders. So now we watch and wait for a future that awaits these children to fulfil their potential. And I sense now, that it is going to be extraordinary.
And their future began with a difference that was made today.