Left photo: Principal of Marude Secondary School (middle) flanked by Professors Bessong and Runhare. Right photo: Learners of Marude Secondary School
On Thursday, 18 July 2024, the University of Venda (UNIVEN) joined millions of people around the world in commemorating Nelson Mandela International Day. In keeping with the spirit of giving back, as part of Nelson Mandela International Day celebration, the University chose to dedicate 67 minutes of service to the community by adopting Marude Secondary School in Thohoyandou. The adoption of Marude Secondary School by UNIVEN was a strategic decision, as the school’s perfor-mance in the previous years ‘examinations was below the provincial average.
Speaking during the event, the University’s Advancement Unit Manager, Mr Percy Ngobeli high-lighted that the UNIVEN management hopes to address the academic challenges faced by Marude Secondary School by initiating a strategic intervention. “With this initiative, the University’s lecturers will provide valuable academic support to the learners of Marude across all subjects offered at the school, helping them to improve their performance and achieve greater success” highlighted Ngobeli.
Ngobeli further indicated that “this effort is aligned with the University’s mission to “Create Future Leaders” and reaffirms UNIVEN’s commitment to creating positive change in the community.”
Prof Tawanda Runhare, Acting Executive Dean of the Faculty of Humanities, Social Sciences, and Education, shared a message of support during the Nelson Mandela International Day celebration at Marude Secondary School. He noted that this day, while celebrated in South Africa, is an international day that transcends borders and celebrates the global impact of Nelson Mandela’s legacy.
When delivering his message, Prof Runhare also drew attention to the words of UN Secretary General, Antonio Guterres, sharing key quotes from his speech. When paraphrasing Guterres remarks, Prof Runhare remarked that “Nelson Mandela showed the world how one person can make a difference.” He also shared the Secretary General’s belief that “Each of us has the power to change the world, and on this day, we pledge to do our part to contribute to peace, reconciliation, and understanding across the globe.”
These poignant words served as a reminder of the positive impact that each person can have in creating a better future, aligning with UNIVEN’s mission of “Creating Future Leaders.”
Prof Pascal Bessong, the Research Professor in the Faculty of Science, Engineering and Agriculture at the University of Venda representing the UNIVEN Management, recognised Mandela as the only public figure or the only one that has an International Day, out of the seven billion world population. Prof Bessong continued to engage with the learners of Marude Secondary School, delivering a powerful message on the importance of self-leadership. He encouraged learners to take responsibility for their own learning, likening their studies to “going to work.”
Prof Bessong also emphasised the need for passion, discipline, and conscientiousness, stating that these qualities are essential for becoming effective leaders. He asked the learners, “Who are you?,” emphasising that their personal dispositions will determine whether they take advantage of the opportunities offered to them by the University of Venda. He added, “If a material is not well disposed, the material will be wasted,” urging the learners to reflect on their own ambitions and strive for higher goals.
The Principal of Marude Secondary School, Mr Alex Muthelo, took the opportunity to express his gratitude for UNIVEN’s support, remarking that the University’s involvement was a “blessing in disguise.” He highlighted that the University’s commitment to turning Marude Secondary School into a model school would indeed transform the educational experience for learners and staff alike.
“We are in a partnership with UNIVEN, he stated, and we have 17 students currently doing practical who are from UNIVEN. We know that by the end of the year, the results will improve significantly.”
Thompho Tshivhuyahuvhi, the Representative Council of Learners (RCL) President of Marude Sec-ondary School said “this initiative that UNIVEN is doing will help improve our results by the end of the year, and we are really looking forward to it. We are excited to receive assistance from the University staff, as this will give us the chance to work with experts in our subject areas and get the support, we need to do well
The UNIVEN’s Nelson Mandela International Day celebrations also saw staff members from the University’s Experimental Farm lending their green thumbs to Marude Secondary School. In just 67 minutes, the staff members planted a sustainable garden on the school’s grounds, fostering a spirit of environmentalism and self-sufficiency that will no doubt benefit the school for years to come.
Issued by:
Department Marketing, Branding and Communication
University of Venda
Tel: 082 868 2218 / 082 868 1811
