Recently, 4 learners from a Soshanguve school were awarded as top performing students despite a shaky start of the year. They worked hard to beat the odds and change their results from poor to top performing students. This is a success they attribute to attending a regular afterschool Learner Support Programme ran by Boitumelo Maswanganye.
Boitumelo, who is a Scientology Volunteer Minister from Soshanguve has been assisting many struggling learners in Soshanguve with an afterschool learner Support programme that has empowered students to overcome the impossible barriers to learning.
“The learner support programme has really helped me a lot. I was struggling in school but that is over now and it’s all thanks to this afterschool program where I received a lot of help to improve my studies”, said one of the students.
Upon seeing the devastating dropout rate and the deadly consequences that follow afterwards, Boitumelo decided to step in and help learners improve their literacy. This has now turned into a movement of assisting failing students with Learner Support Tools that has improved their school results.
In a short documentary on YouTube, she describes how she has been using the Scientology Tools for Life to empower the kids she works with and aims to empower many more.
Despite the hardships and challenges that come with living in a township, Boitumelo found her passion for helping kids and pursued her desire to help learners with learning difficulties. “When kids drop out of school, they start getting involved in detrimental habits like taking drugs and stealing. They see no hope in education anymore,” said Boitumelo. “Kids need help from us as a community. They need to be able to understand what they are reading and what it means and how they can apply it. If not, then what will their lives be like? We need to show them that we are here to support them and that if they feel like quitting, the learner support program is here for them and they can have a future. That is what learner support is. It’s that extra step beyond content delivery that you take to ensure the child’s wellbeing is taken care of,” she added.
Not only did she decide to help, she further established her own NPO called Arise and Shine in order to create an after school care platform where learners with learning difficulties can come and receive learner support. “At first, it was tough. But now the kids are very excited. They always ask me when the next session is and their results have improved significantly, the program works,” continued Boitumelo.
According to her, understanding that kids are also human and are complex with their own personalities has also assisted her in understanding them properly. She gets them involved so that they can also experience that their ideas count and they are capable of solving problems. “The Tools for Life have helped me a lot because they provided me with the right tools for every situation. I know exactly how to help and encourage them now,” added Boitumelo.
“This Learner Support program has helped me a lot as a learner, I have improved a lot academically. I have seen it help others too. Without it, I would be nowhere right now,” said one of the learners assisted by Arise and Shine.
“Thank you very much to the Scientology Volunteer Ministers who have supported me a lot in starting this program. I have been able to create positive change and intend on doing more for my community. It makes me feel good and makes my life worthwhile,” concluded Boitumelo.
The “Tools for life” skills development program is delivered for free by the Scientology Volunteer Ministers as a way to empower communities and is applicable to all members of society. They host a variety of free seminars for communities and have trained thousands and thousands from their headquarters in Castle Kyalami on this effective program written by humanitarian L. Ron Hubbard.
