Byline: Thendo Buasi
01 November 2022
Friends of the Thistle Grove Library hosted their third annual Spelling BEE competition at Kinross Sasol Club on Thursday, 27 October 2022.
Friends of the library is a community based organisation situated in Kinross with the aim of promoting reading and education amongst children.
The aim of the competition was to instill the understanding that education will always be vital in children lives.
“We as the Friends of the Thistle Grove Library have come to an understanding that libraries are established through the efforts of the community members, recognising the value of libraries in our communities,” said Mrs Priscilla Naidoo.
She further stated that the library needs the total support of the community to survive and strive.
However, Mrs Priscilla Naidoo was delighted for the huge success of the third annual competition after reviving from previous annual where one was hosted in the mist of covid-19 in 2020.
Mpume Mdakane, Social Impact and Shared Value specialist from Sasol shared message of support during the competition.
“Today’s event fills all of us with pride because it demonstrate our core value of care,” said Mpume.
She further stated that the development of communities is important for Sasol, therefore their social investment activities are aligned to the Sustainable Development Goals while responding to local realities with investments prioritise in their fence-line communities.
The competition was joined by 10 primary schools which were: Sasolia, Nyandeni, Lamlile, Kinross, Osizweni, E.P Lekhela, Emdibini, Sizenzele, Thistle Grove Combined and Mbalenhle Primary School, although amongst them one school was from North West Province.
However on group participation, Sasolia Primary School took first position followed by Sizenzele Primary School with second position.
Therefore, in individual participation, Athandwe Kolobe from Lamlile Primary School took first position followed by Precious van Wyk from Lamlile Primary School in Bethal with second position and Ayesha Malek from Thistle Grove Combine school with third position.
“I feel so proud of myself and grateful for my teacher and family who motivated and taught me that anything is possible,” said Athandwe Kolobe after winning competition.
Her English teacher was extremely delighted of the outcomes of the competition as she expressed her gratitude towards all her learners for putting all their efforts since first day of practice at their School and fasting preparing for the competition.
She further stated that she thank almighty God as without God nothing is possible and also grateful that Precious Van Wyk took second position as she was the youngest participant amongst all the learners despite the fact that on Monday, 17 October 2022 she took first position at the Department of Education Spelling BEE competition.
Ayesha Malek together with her English teacher were grateful for making it to top 3 as according to them it’s because of hard working and multi-tasking as they have to balance examination preparation as well as practicing for the competition.
“Although it was my first time Judging Spelling BEE competition, the skills and knowledge of all the learners were above what as judges we anticipated, am extremely well impressed by the performance,” said Michelene Ramphal.
Mathews Mehala expressed his feeling of great excitement for the success of the competition and the organiser for the wonderful work and spirit of togetherness in all interaction.
He further thanked all the stakeholder that were involved and sponsors that made the event a success.
