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CNN World Report

South African School Shows Promise for Underprivileged Children

Aired June 24, 2001 - 14:40   ET

THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.

THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
SHIHAB RATTANSI, CNN ANCHOR: A special school in South Africa is showing promise for its students. It's geared toward underprivileged children, who have struggled throughout their young lives. Some have never been to school before.

Yet, as SACB reports, with the care, patience and understanding they are receiving, many are thriving in this new environment.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

PAULA SLIER, SACB REPORTER (voice-over): Three years ago, Leolo (ph) had not opened a book. Today, at the age of 14, he is in his first year of school. His dream to be a doctor.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: My father left (UNINTELLIGIBLE). My mother I've not seen since 1999.

Leolo left home at the age of 10. He says his mom used to beat him up. For three years, he lived on the streets. The worst experience being the two days he spent in sewage drains.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: I didn't eat, but (UNINTELLIGIBLE)

SLIER: His is a heart-wrenching story, but it's not unique.

(on camera): Leolo is part of what some refer to as the lost generation. But the people who work inside this building have not given hope on him or the thousands of others like him.

(voice-over): Leolo is one of 702 students attending New Nation School in one of Johannesburg poorest suburbs. Established five years ago, over 90 percent or these pupils come from the streets. Some were referred by welfare, others were in foster care; most live in shelters, but all have lived life the hard way.

DESMOND MABUYA, HEADMASTER: There isn't any specialty training to deal with street children, but a person who's got a background of remedial education, and also it needs a person who is dedicated and committed in helping children who bring a lot of baggage in school.

SLIER: In a school that's already different, Leolo's class is even more so. All his classmates have missed out years of education. AGGY MTHEMBI, TEACHER: Some of them have never been at school. So here in this special class, I am teaching them the basics that I've done in grade one, grade two and grade three work. We started them by teaching them how to write their names, because they can't even write their names.

SLIER: But every kid as at least one talent, and it is this that school hopes to develop. But life is not easy. The children suffer from low self-esteem, mistrust, violent and often rude behavior. Some come to school dirty, while others are sick with TB, (UNINTELLIGIBLE) and sexually-transmitted diseases.

MABUYA: Some of them, when they buy sweets, they give me a sweet and I enjoy it. It seems as if they recognize and appreciate what I'm doing. That's how I get fulfillment.

SLIER: He's not the only one being fulfilled. For hundreds of these children, New Nation offers them precisely that; a second chance to build a new nation.

Paula Slier, SABC, Johannesburg for CNN WORLD REPORT.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

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