Stephen Ferreira has worked in impoverished communities for years and knows how hard it is for school students to focus; he wrote a letter to all the matriculants that scraped a pass.
Johannesburg, South Africa (19 January 2023) – The current matric pass rate is a hot topic but while many debate it, the students in grade 12 are working very hard to get by without power, efficient teachers, safe classrooms, school books and even school uniforms.
Stephan Ferreira, who founded “Charity Begins With Me”, wrote a letter to the students who achieved the 30% pass rate. His letter congratulates them for their efforts despite facing hardships and many obstacles.
The letter was an eye-opener for many who have since wished all graduate hearty congratulations.
“Congratulations to all those who did not get eleven distinctions. To those who barely passed because the journey hasn’t been an easy one.
To those who spent nights studying with only a few candles because they still do not have access to electricity.
To those who had desperately wanted to study but did not always have the time because they had to look after younger siblings.
To those who missed school and fell behind on homework because they could not afford the “luxury” of sanitary pads.
To those who woke up long before everyone else to catch taxis or had to walk great distances to get to school and back.
And to those who sat in exam venues trying desperately to remember the answers while hunger and discomfort tried to distract them from accomplishing their goals.
Eleven distinctions? Absolutely amazing.
But sometimes barely passing is a far greater accomplishment.”
We couldn’t agree more!
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