The work of Christel House affects one child, one family, one community at a time. It is a long journey that requires hard work and commitment from everyone involved -- students, parents, caregivers, teachers and staff—but our results speak for themselves! We hope you will enjoy learning more about our learners’ accomplishments. Through the dedication of the teachers and friends of Christel House, our learners have grown from strength to strength in their academic abilities. For example 72% have met or exceeded grade level requirements in language arts and mathematics. Learners in our Senior Choir enjoyed a great boost to their self-esteem and confidence when they performed in Verdi’s Opera, La Boheme, before packed audiences at the Arts Cape Theatre. An encore is planned; the choir is currently rehearsing Scott Joplin’s opera, Treemonisha. Click here for more information on attending a student performance.
Nontando Bonga
Nontando is no stranger when it comes to receiving awards and accolades. This very special girl exudes a quiet confidence. She is clear and determined about realising her future dream of becoming a medical doctor. She was the recipient of the 2005 Christel Award—an annual recognition of a learner who demonstrates commitment, dedication, academic excellence and incorporation of the Christel House core values into his or her daily life.
Nontando was selected to attend the Culver Academies Summer Leadership camp in the winter of 2007, and in 2007 she was again nominated and short listed to receive Christel Award. However, during a surprise announcement by Ms. Christel DeHaan herself Nontando became the first-ever recipient of the Nelson Mandela Leadership Award. This award has now become the highest award that a Christel House senior learner can receive.
The Nelson Mandela Leadership Award also provides monetary recognition of R10 000 (Ten thousand rand) that becomes available upon the winner entering a tertiary institution. Nontando’s strong leadership qualities made her a most worthy recipient indeed. We will continue to watch her reach for her dreams.
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Engen Incubator School
The Engen Incubator project chooses talented learners from disadvantaged backgrounds, to prepare them for careers in engineering. The top 50 learners from Cape Town schools who show aptitude, dedication and a good academic foundation are accepted into the Incubator School, which meets on Saturday mornings and during the July school holidays.
Seven Christel House learners were accepted into the programme in 2007, and they will continue with the programme until they reach grade 12. In a competition run by the programme’s sponsor, Engen Oil Refinery, our learner Zola Maphila, age 16, grade 11, was selected to join an elite group of learners to visit the company’s oil refinery in Durban.
The theme of the Engen competition was “ Have you got what it takes?” Zola proved that she did, in fact, “have it.” The group was flown to Durban to tour the refinery and learn about possible careers in this field. “My trip to Durban was an incredible experience, I enjoyed being with the other students. It made me realise how different and unique we all are.,” said Zola after the trip.
Zola’s father, a single parent, has raised her since she was 18 months old. We know he must be so proud!
Culver Campers
Two of our students, Angelique Blaauw and Nontando Bonga were afforded a full bursary to attend the six-week Culver Summer Leadership Camp in Culver, Indiana in 2007.
Angie and Nontando were proud ambassadors for Christel House South Africa. As a senior camper, Angie was chosen to hoist the Camp’s flag every morning and did that with great pride. Nontando was a real star in Mathematics and moved from one level to the next in the first week. To read more about our Culver Campers, click here.
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