“Your Help Builds Their Future”
“Your Help Builds Their Future”
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Perhaps because our days are so fulfilling, I find it remarkable how quickly time passes! We are nearing the end of our 1st term in 2026. I hope you enjoy reading about our final 2025 term and 1st term in 2026 school activities, community involvement and children’s progress.
2026 Term Update….
2026 in Venda began with heavy rains. Instead of school preparations to welcome back the children, we prepared to give shelter to the community, should the need arise. The rain began the 3rd of January and continued with 3 more weeks of heavy rain in March. We are still battling with the repercussions of the floods. Almost every street in Venda has eroded; including the main roads in and out of Venda. For the past two weeks, we could not move around. Many people lost their homes and some their lives as they attempted to cross the rivers. In our smaller community, so far, we have not lost people, only houses, and particularly kitchens. In Venda most kitchens are not attached to the main house since we cook with firewood and many washed away with the rains.
The rains also damaged our vegetable garden and we are struggling to bring it back. The irrigation pipes are damaged and we lost all the vegetables planted in December. Since then we managed to work a small part of the garden and attempted to grow some vegetables, but due to the heavy rains these are not growing as expected. Normally this time of the year we would be eating beetroots, cabbages, and onions from the garden; however, this year mustard spinach is the only thing growing well under the rainy conditions. Our food bill has increased incrementally since the garden is not producing vegetable to offset these costs.
We had limited internet connections and electricity supply as both were affected by the rains. And, when it is raining heavily, we are advised to close the school for the safety of the children and staff.
The first day of school was scheduled to begin the 14th of January but due to the rains the government moved the opening date to the 20th of January. The staff arrived at school on the 19th to check conditions and prepare for the opening; only 5 staff members out of 12 managed to get to school. The others could not find transport because the roads in their communities were not passable. While we opened on the 20th, only 30 students were in attendance. These were students who lived close enough to walk from home. It wasn’t until the following Thursday that most students were able to return to school. And it continues to rain; mostly evenings and early morning.
Current attendance is at 161 students. The classes are; preschool/infants with 12 students ages 1-2, advanced toddler with 26 students aged 2-3, and advanced preschool with 37 students age 3-4. Primary School grades include grade R with 29 students aged 5-6, grade 1 with 25 students aged 6-7, grade 2 with 23 students aged 7-8 and Grade 3 with 9 students aged 8-9. With 13 dedicated staff members and 3 volunteers children receive a quality educational experience along with lots of love and respect.
2025 Term 4 update….
We feel humbled to proclaim that our learning and activities plans and goals for 2025 were completed.
On the 31st of October, VMS hosted a concert for Grade 1 through Grade 3. Students, guardians/parents, department of health representatives, and community members attended. The children put on a beautiful show performing dramas, dances, and poems. Guest speakers from the Department of Education and The Department of Health encouraged parents and students to maintain academic and healthy lifestyles as they headed towards the long holidays. It was an honour to watch children and teachers perform each activity with confidence and joy.
Our pre-schoolers had their own concert on the 21st of November. About 200 people attended the events. The day was full of fun and learning as our little stars showed off their different talents in drama, dancing, and speeches.
On the 5th of December, we hosted our annual graduation ceremony where 42 of our grade 3 students graduated. Parents and guardians came in numbers to celebrate with us. Guest speakers encouraged ongoing parent and child relationships and the children to continue their academic and social activities.
On the 8th of December, VMS, together with the Agora Amarula Club in Louis Trichardt, hosted a lovely Christmas party for 75 of our more vulnerable children. Each child received a Christmas present. Agora Amarula Club members also brought two cars full of second-hand clothes for the children, their caregivers and members of the community effected by the flood. They also brought multiple books and stationary for school use in 2026. We continue to be grateful for our friend Fiona Thomas for giving our children a Christmas to remember!
Netcare Foundation, for the past 18 years, has ensured every child and family receive food parcels during the long school holidays. This year they provided for 40 families for December 2025 and again in January 2026.
We also received a donation of clothes and toys from our Louis Trichardt friends, the Patel family, Misha, and children at Aunty Fee’s Montessori Gems. In January these items were also distributed to members of the community affected by the flood.
On the 13th of February we hosted a successful Valentine's Day for students and their teachers. Students made cards for each other with a simple message: I love you, students and educator. Also, our educators ensured that all children had red and white attire and they all dressed for up for the day.
On the 26th of March, we held career day; throughout the week, children were taught about different careers and learned that they can be anything they want to be in life. Each child came to school dressed in his/her professional choice. Staff from Nephromed Kidney Centre here in Tshikombani came in numbers to educate children about the many different careers available in health and medicine and the many ways doctors and medical staff could help people. They also talked to the children about healthy kidneys. It was motivating to have a medical practitioner socializing with our students, encouraging them and letting them know they too could aspire to be anything they wanted to be.
And to sum it all up…
Our 1st term felt like we were under lockdown again, as we were always worrying if it would be safe for students in the flooded areas to remain at home or come to school. And, as the weather continues to be unpredictable, some days we still have no electricity or network.
Formal learning went well with a 100% pass rate from grade R to grade 3 with our dedicated staff putting in extra hours to cover for the lost time. On some days we were finishing school at 4 o’clock in the afternoon. The physical appearance and confidence in children has improved and families and caregivers continue to express their gratitude.
Aside from the catastrophic rains, our 1st term went very well and we are grateful for all we have achieved. We are still committed to providing orphans, vulnerable children, and HIV+ children in our care an excellent pre-school education up to grade 3, with a strong emphasis on English. We continue to provide free transportation, three nutritious meals per day and distribute second-hand clothes and medical help as needed. The 1st term ended on the 27th of March and we start school again on the 8th of April.
We are thankful for Hope for Limpopo, Scotland churches and community, The SKR foundation, Netcare Foundation and all of our sponsors, donors, and supporters and our VMS board members and the many people who help, guide, advise, and stand with us. Thank you for supporting Vhutshilo Mountain School through these challenging uphill climbs. We couldn’t reach these heights without you. “Ro livhuwa nga maanda!” ( a Venda huge thank you!).
Warm regards,
Khathu NemafhohoniShare this: