Pay it forward’ is an expression for when the recipient of an act of kindness does something kind for someone else rather than simply accepting or repaying the original good deed. This phrase, in its truest form found meaning when past learners from Disa Primary School had the privilege of giving back to their local community in celebration of 10 years of education in Hout Bay, under the banner of the Andreas and Susan Struengmann Foundation.
In 2007 the Andreas and Susan Struengmann Foundation was established to sponsor educational initiatives in the Western Cape. The foundation supports Disa Primary School in Hout Bay, the Susan Struengmann Initiative at UCT, as well as the Students For A Better Future Scholarship Programme.
After studying in Munich, Dr Andreas Struengmann came to South Africa as a medical intern and met his wife Mrs Susan Stuengmann. The two travelled to Tsolo, in the Eastern Cape and were moved by the lack of resources in both the hospital where Andreas was placed and the school where Sue was working.
The couple recounts that: “We made a promise to each other then, that if we were ever successful enough, we would do our part to help young people in South Africa access a quality education.”
With state-of-the-art facilities and teaching resources, learners at Disa Primary have access to quality education during their foundational years up to Grade 7, which is further enhanced by the high school scholarship programme of Students for a Better Future (SBF).
In celebrating 10 years of Disa, the high school learners spent the afternoon carrying out community service activities with local Hout Bay community organisations in the name of Disa Primary. The organisation’s vision of a better future is fundamentally underpinned by a belief in the greater impact of investing in a single child – changing the life of a child, changes families, which changes communities. Through better communities, we can build a better future.
The celebration on the 13th of April 2022, sees this vision coming full circle. Many of the volunteers have benefited from the programmes of these community organizations over the years. Not only do the scholars have an opportunity to give back and serve in thisway, but they are modeling community to those following behind and living out the vision of building better communities through the opportunities provided to them.
“We don’t just want to talk to our learners about having a positive impact, we wanted to create opportunities for them to experience what that means. For 10 years they’ve received and now we could celebrate their achievement and commitment whilstgiving them a direct opportunity to serve,” says Halli Manolakos, Executive Head of the Andreas and Susan Struengmann Foundation South Africa.
The day was a witness of the momentous impact of what is possible when you see what has been built by a community with a shared and common purpose. “A community which has been formed by a shared dream, a dream that started way back in 2012, with the first discussion about what was possible, to the first brick that was laid, a tree protected, to the first learners who walked through the doors in 2013, to the first matric cohort participating in this day.
“We are a community that belongs to the vision of Dr and Mrs Struengmann, who understands deeply that through education and a strong community we can empower each young learner of Disa Primary to live their potential and release a better future” added Manolakos.
Ten years is an important milestone through which the foundation has demonstrated their care and commitment towards the children of Hout Bay. It is also a period through which relationships were solidified and that young people who have come through the programme have had an opportunity for a real transformative journey to set them on course for their future.
“We are so honoured to bring it all back to Disa Primary to celebrate with the learners and their parents, as well as including the community through a service intervention.Through collaborative partnerships with the community and local NPO’s we are able to afford young people opportunities for growth, which is fundamental to our mission,” concludes Manolakos.
