By Khanyisa Khenese and Luvuyo Mjekula
Aspire Psychosocial Educational Support Services for Vulnerable Children (APESSERV) restores disadvantaged learners’ dignity, making a safe space for children in Makhanda and fostering the spirit of Ubuntu, among many other goals.
Empowering vulnerable pre-adolescent and adolescent learners from various local schools to reach their full potential and overcome life challenges is what the Aspire Centre, located at Tantyi Primary School, does.
The organisation was established in 2018 as a project to offer life-skills and educational support to eight girl-children at the time.
In the height of the COVID-19 pandemic in 2020, when children world-wide and in South Africa were experiencing bereavement in their families, the trauma of being unable to bury their loved ones in the usual way due to COVID-19 restrictions, as well as the inability to access schooling, there was a vision to add a third leg to the programme, psychosocial support to enable the children to deal with the devastating effects of the pandemic and other challenges that they were facing at home, in the community and accessing education during the hard lockdown.
It was during this time that the idea of registering a non-profit organisation named Aspire Psychosocial and Educational Support Services for Vulnerable Children was born. It was officially registered in October 2020.
After the first three school terms of 2021, working tirelessly and doing all the groundwork, the Board decided to resume the programme’s activities from 18 October 2021 after a long break due to COVID-19.
The NPO was unfunded at the time and heavily relied on the generosity of board members, friends, donors and citizens, for various donations ranging from brochures, business cards, a stamp, a first aid kit, snacks, reading materials and stationery.
“We are also grateful to After-school Assistants (AAs) who ensured smooth daily running of the programme since its inception,” says the organisations’ director, Zimasa Burns-Ncamashe.
After leaving her career as an educator, Burns-Ncamashe’s dream was to give back to the children, especially girl-children. “I am a mother of a daughter who was raised to be successful, I thought there were children whose parents were not available to them emotionally, financially, and materialistically. So, I thought I could give what I gave my daughter to other children, especially those that have absent parents.”
Giving back to the children was not the only driving force behind the organisation. A dream played a role too. “I had a very vivid and profound dream where I was shown children of the same age that were not in a school setup and I was instructed to help them,” said Burns-Ncamashe.
APESSERV focuses on counselling and psychosocial support to grades 6 and 7 once a week, providing nutrition, laundry services, social and life skills, reading and singing, skills development and learner wellness, and healthy living education.
In terms of governance and management, at a special board meeting held on the 13 July 2024, following the resignation of Ms Gxekwa, it was resolved that Yoliswa Dongwana be co-opted to the position of deputy treasurer.
The organisation’s board is now as follows:
Chairperson : Miss Ntombovuyo Manze
Deputy Chairperson : Miss Zama Boto
Secretary : Mrs Portia Bikitsha
Treasurer : Miss Lukhona Mdluli
Deputy Treasurer : Mrs Yoliswa Dongwana
Ms Burns-Ncamashe is the director and Ms Linda Mtse is the programmes co-ordinator.
Board meetings are held virtually and face-to-face, mainly, for the benefit of the board members who work outside Makhanda. They are generally held on Sunday afternoons and/or weekday evenings. Board adheres to the required quarterly meetings.
At the organisation’s AGM this week, Burns-Ncamashe presented the director’s report.
“It is my great pleasure to present the director’s report today. It is indeed a big day and a significant milestone for Aspire Psychosocial and Educational Support Services for Vulnerable Children, abbreviated as Apesserv, to be able to hold its third Annual General Meeting today. The board of directors and staff have worked tirelessly not only to make this day a success, but to make this report possible through their valuable contribution to the successful operation of this organisation. I am so proud of each one of them.”
The director’s report alluded to a number of topics including affiliation and partnerships; compliance and legalities, funding and financial position; operations and growth; programmes and skills development.
Burns-Ncamashe also reflected on the organisation’s highlights. These included a personal growth workshop for Grade 7s by an intern psychologist, creative arts lessons, pop-up movies, and an outing to Thomas Baines, all through its partnership with the Black Power Station. Chess was introduced and five learners played in two local tournaments. Christmas service and blessing of the children and staff by Archbishop Ngesi and Rev Thamsanqa Ximiya were important moments for the organisations.
Visits by the Social Development Portfolio Committee and allocation of a social worker
to attend to Aspire children and by Cogta Deputy Minister, Prince Burns-Ncamashe, MP who went on to donate children’s food and stationery.
The most notable challenges reported were limited funding, which prevents the organisation from employing staff full-time; lack of professional staff such as a social auxiliary worker and a trained youth care; lack of Wi-Fi connectivity as well as imited parental involvement.
On Aspire’s bucket list currently is Wi-Fi connectivity, a laptop, a cellphone, convection oven inserts, outdoor benches for the children, directional sign from M Street, table tennis equipment, toolshed, fixing of the potholes to the Aspire Centre and a vehicle.
“Aspire would not have accommodation had it not been for Tantyi Primary School’s spirit of generosity and support. Thank you, thank you, thank you!”
