Breakfast for Lavender Hill Grade 12s

Wicht Court Community, a breakfast club in Lavender Hill, served breakfast to 161 Lavender High School Grade 12 pupils to commend them for their perseverance in writing exams “at a time when violence had escalated”.

“We are proud of them because they stood tall despite the violence, and before they wrote their last subject, Afrikaans, we thought we would treat them to breakfast,” said Adele Campbell, chairperson of Wicht Court Community.

Ms Campbell said many of the women in the club are former Lavender Hill pupils and they have decided to feed breakfast to all school children in front of their court, as a small gesture to “give back to the community daily since 2017”.

The aim of this initiative was to curb the school drop-out rate and show pupils the club will use their resources if the children need their support.

“We want to show everyone that something good can come out of Lavender Hill. We are here to help and steer them in the right direction. We want future lawyers, teachers, doctors coming from Lavender Hill.”

Ms Campbell said that morning’s breakfast consisted of corn flakes, coffee and tea and a doggie bag filled with an egg and vienna burger as well as a small yoghurt, juice and a banana.

Fuad Viljoen, principal of Lavender Hill High, said this year’s group of Grade 12s was the largest to write exams. “Compared to last year, learners had increased from 120 to 161. It only shows that learners want to complete their matric despite the challenges.

“Lavender Hill has become a safe space for our learners. Structures are provided from teachers, the Department of Social Development as well as sports facilitators so that learners can remain at school and also finish school.”

Mr Viljoen said his message at the breakfast was to encourage pupils to continue their studies and to make them more employable.

“If they can do that they will economically uplift their family and the community. Lavender Hill must not be associated with gangs and drugs but with positive things that are currently happening.”

Mr Viljoen commended the Wicht Court Committee for paying it forward to the pupils who will take cognisance of that and continue the tradition. “We also had the support of the New World Foundation who provided skills workshops throughout the year. They made the learners aware that they can contact them if they are interested in further studies.”