Cheslin and Layla Kolbe visits Petunia Primary School. Picture: Instagram
As the annual school year comes to an end, grade 1 learners of Petunia Primary School in Kraaifontein had an extra reason to smile ahead of reports day.
On Friday, learners of the school were in for a treat as double World Cup winner Cheslin Kolbe, his wife Layla, and members of the Cheslin Kolbe Foundation visited the school to supply 20 grade one learners with state-of-the-art iPads.
The initiative is a collaboration between the Cheslin Kolbe Foundation, iSchool Africa, and iStore Africa. It is focused on improving academics by equipping both learners and teachers with technology and future focused educational practices in mathematics and languages with an objective to see them thrive in the fourth industrial revolution.
The school’s principle Faizal Yon burst with pride as he welcomed the project and looks forward to witnessing the impact that this will have on his learners. Speaking to BONA, he shared more about what this opportunity means to his school.
“I am hoping that my results are going to improve. With the mathematics programme, I am hoping to instil a love for mathematics, that my learners may have a good foundation and take maths as high as possible, all the way into high school and beyond.”
In a community ravaged by crime and gangsterism, Faizal is eager to rewrite this narrative by giving his learners an opportunity to change their future by using platforms such as these to guide them into wonderful careers when they grow older.
He explained that the schools are measured by their systemic results, and that his goal, for the next few years, is to see them improve in both their grade 3 and grade 6 systemic results.
He further highlighted that from next year onwards, each of the educators will be receiving training on the various programmes offered on the iPad. Thereafter, they will be introducing Mathematics and English lessons to their learners.
Meanwhile, Cheslin is no stranger to the school nor the broader community. It was here that the Springbok hot stepper spent the majority of his childhood and discovered his talent which he now proudly displays on the rugby field.
In conversation with BONA, Cheslin emphasised that both Scottsville and Kraaifontein will always be his home given how much the community has shaped him into what he has become.
Speaking about the Cheslin Kolbe Foundation partnership with iSchool Africa, and iStore Africa, he stressed that they were excited since the first day they heard about the possible collaboration.
“We were super excited from the get-go. They have had more than 15 years of experience within the education field and the tools they have through the iPad and loading those educational programmes – and the technology that is always improving these days makes this beneficial to the kids.”
Cheslin says that it is an incredible opportunity for his newly launched foundation, but more so for the learners and their future.
In his reflection of what it means to be back in the place he spent so much of his childhood, he said:
“I don’t just want to be remembered as a rugby player. I am a people’s person, and I want to give back to a community who looked after me, that’s always supported me throughout my career, and I want to use my platform to inspire and be a role model, not just to Scottsville, but to the whole of South Africa.”
Following the recent affairs, the Springbok wing has returned to Japan, where he will represent his club Suntory Sungoliath.
Also see: Cheslin, Eben and Pieter-Steph get the nod ahead of World Rugby Awards | Bona Magazine
