Children are our future leaders, but are we doing enough to prepare them? The youth have the right to schooling. They also deserve additional resources that will open doors later on in life. Yet unlike bustling cities, many smaller areas only have access to the basics of education. Jamestown, a settlement on the outskirts of Stellenbosch, used to be one of them. Until Chanene van As saw an opportunity to do what she does best – facilitate the growth of young minds.
Van As founded the Green Door Project, an after-school initiative to assist primary school girls who are at risk academically. With 18 years of teaching experience under her belt, Van As helps children discover and develop their talents. Between four and five in the afternoon, they learn to use their time constructively by choosing from a range of creative classes and participating in environmental exercises such as recycling and gardening. “The approach we take is part of the success,” Van As says.
Without this kind of holistic education, opportunities for the children of Jamestown would be limited. But as Van As nurtures them, they begin to use their abilities to contribute to their community from a young age. “By spending time here, they transform into wonderful girls,” Van As says. She’s giving each child a support system which allows paramount learning to take place. With knowledge, and the confidence that comes with it, these children are set up to define a better tomorrow.
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