The Bridge Extra-Classes and Community Support Project, located in the community of Hartswater, South Africa, was established with a specific goal: to reduce the inequalities left behind by apartheid and to improve access to quality education, particularly in core subjects such as mathematics and English. During the period of the apartheid regime,access to education for some ethnic groups was severely restricted, and educational barriers were one of the most severe consequences of that historical period.
The name of the project, “The Bridge,” perfectly reflects the mission of this program: to build bridges and promote dialogue and peace in a social context marked by divisions. Created at the request of a community deeply scarred by the wounds left by apartheid, the project has evolved over the years, responding to community needs and achieving tangible results.
The heart of the project is tutoring, which focuses mainly on improving the academic achievement of about 80 children and adolescents. Tutoring activities focus mainly on math and English, skills that are essential for a better future. However, the project not only offers academic support, but also embraces human formation, encouraging the development of values such as peace and solidarity.
The project pays special attention to the family insecurity that afflicts most of the children and adolescents involved. Many of them are under the care of their grandparents, with a generation of parents often missing due to poverty and historical difficulties related to the country’s past. For this reason, in recent years, the project has stepped up its efforts to connect directly with the children’s families, organizing meetings and home visits to ensure that the family context also contributes to the children’s well-being and growth.
A key aspect of the program is peace education, which is promoted through targeted activities and workshops. One of the most successful was the peace education workshop, which was a great success among participants, strengthening social ties and promoting a culture of respect and cooperation.
One of the most significant testimonies is that of João Santos, a boy who has benefited from the distance support program. João is the son of an Angolan soldier who had fought during apartheid alongside white forces, but who, after the end of the regime, remained in South Africa, discriminated against and abandoned by the local population. João recounts his experience with emotion and gratitude, “Hello, my name is João Santos. I come from Mahikeng. I attended St Mary’s School and with the help of the distance support program I was able to pay my school fees and transportation from the military camp to the school. I am very grateful that God directed me and my family to them. Today I am proud to say that I have completed my high school diploma and am currently studying electrical engineering.”
With the support of AFN and supporters, the project gives kids like João the opportunity to build a better future by acquiring fundamental skills and values. Education can truly make a difference in highly challenging contexts, transforming the lives of individuals and entire communities.
