AISJ Pays it Forward

Imagine having to eat your one meal a day without a knife, fork or spoon, or having to drink your water straight from the tap instead of filling up your ultra-fancy water bottle with clean, filtered water. Children from Bongimfundo Primary School have none of these luxuries and very little more than the bare essentials, but the good news is that they are getting an education and Sugar Bay, together with the American International School of Johannesburg, was proud to be a part of that today.

Today's Service Learning lessons had two main goals in mind: CONNECT and HAVE FUN! The pure, innocent, barrier-breaking, giggle-inducing fun that children can have together no matter their background, skin colour or social standing.

The Grade 8s from AISJ were the reason for all the joy and laughter - they spent their morning doing a Service Learning project with students from Bongimfundo, a local school that works hard to provide an education to the children of local farm workers.

Classroom-bound learning and school uniforms were quickly discarded as learners put their boundless energy to the test with games of soccer, open gates and volleyball. They were encouraged with smiles, cheers, high fives and hugs from the AISJ learners and our Sugar Bay counselors.

It was a beautiful thing to see these underprivileged learners making beaded friendship bracelets, displaying their natural rhythm to the beat of our drums and learning new games such as Splat and Stuck in the Mud.

Service Learning is a far-reaching and life-altering experience for students, during which time they undergo incredible growth in their emotional maturity and learn a great deal about themselves as part of a greater whole. With the assistance of Sugar Bay counselors, the AISJ students did prep work yesterday to brainstorm ways to create a connection, including what practices would work and those that wouldn't. AISJ will be asked to reflect on their experiences once they return to school on Friday and will continue to apply what they have learnt in other areas of their school work.

The motto painted on the school's well-worn four-square court reads Bongimfundo... We are the World. Although the paint was chipped, faded and barely visible on the cracked cement, the message was clear: Bongimfundo will achieve results, no matter the circumstances.

With ours being a similar motto (although certainly far more privileged circumstances), Sugar Bay would like to applaud the principal, teachers and contributors to Bongimfundo Primary School, as well as the AISJ learners and teachers for a successful and enjoyable Service Learning trip. We are thankful for what we have and will continue to pay it forward.

Remember to be grateful, to spread the love and to have fun, always. It's your World.