Author: Dumani Moyo

Youngsters presented splendid performances in a dance competition during this year’s Black Friday build up campaign held at Cosmo Mall on 23 November.

Cosmo Mall awarded different prizes to the winners. Cosmo Mall also sponsored the event, which was organised by In The Dream (ITD), VoxCode Promotions, Capiwise, Coca-Cola and Mmino More Entertainment. The mall will run a Black Friday promotion with 75% discount in selected stores and give away hampers to community members through sidewalk sales.

 While promoting the Black Friday and month-end sidewalk sales until 2 December, Mmino More Entertainment launched its Yellow Tape album.

Cosmo Mall and its partners wanted to bring the community and Cosmo Mall together, according to ITD director William Molaule. “At the same time, we also wanted the youth to showcase their talent,” he said. “It is important to focus on bringing the youth together because if they are not occupied, they end up doing bad things in the streets.”

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Molaule said it is important for community elders to involve the youth in everything they do. “The more the youths get involved in community activities, the more they believe in themselves.  I would love to acknowledge Nkosemhle Ngobese, Romeo Joel, VeeBeats Exclusive and Katlego Lauren for making the event a success.

“Most pupils are looked after by grannies and when they get home they have no one to assist them with school work,” said the founder of Sir Gabriel Centre for Excellence Previous Ndlovu during a spelling and mathematics competition held at the centre on 11 November.

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“Our aim is to bridge that gap between parents and pupils. We want to raise students’ morale to get them excited about education.”

Sir Gabriel Centre for Excellence is a private institution operating in Cosmo City’s extension 4. The centre mainly assists primary students with homework, research and revision. During the competition day, more than 50 students competed in spelling and mental mathematics with parents and community members attending the event.

It is crucial for students to understand mathematics at a young age before getting to high school, Ndlovu said. “Mathematics is not a problem, but a challenge,” he said. “It is one subject that makes a child reach his or her full potential. It is a challenge which they need to overcome.  They have to put an effort in mathematics and enjoy it, as it makes them think.”

Ndlovu said they are appealing for support from the community. “Most of the parents do not earn much and cannot afford school fees,” he said. “Eventually we charge them less, and we cannot chase the children away after failing to pay fees.  So it ends up being difficult to run the centre. Therefore, we are appealing to community members to help out wherever they can.  We are in need of study material and other things to keep the centre running.”

The centre is currently renting in a church premise, and Ndlovu said it is another challenge to them as they are told to move out of the premise by January 2020.

“Ever since my children started to attend at Sir Gabriel Centre, I have seen some improvement,” said a parent Cindy Dube. “I have three children, Gugulethu, Brendon and Thando, who attend here, and I am more than satisfied with the feedback that I get from their school.”

Spelling Bee competition winners

Juniors: Ayabonga (2nd Runner up), Brandon S Dube (1^st runner up), and Mphikeleli Soko (The Winner).

Seniors:  Hazel T Nheta (2nd Runner up), Phenyo Moletsane (1^st runner up), and Gugulethu M Dube (the winner)

Mental mathematics competition winners: Hazel T Nheta (2^nd runner up), Kungawo Gqokonqana (1^st runner up), and Gugulethu M Dube (the winner)

People can contact Sir Gabriel Centre for Excellence on 0612117657