As South Africa prepares to celebrate Heritage Day, the focus often turns to where we come from: the languages we speak, the traditions we share and the experiences that shape our identities. But heritage also offers an opportunity to consider where we are going, and the kind of country we want the next generation to inherit.
For Shepherd Chihwehwete, teacher and Head of Department for the Intermediate Phase at The Love Trust’s Nokuphila School, that future begins in the classroom.
“Helping young South Africans build a strong sense of identity and belonging means helping them understand who they are and where they come from,” he says. “Their culture, language and experiences all have value.”
For Chihwehwete, creating that sense of belonging does not mean focusing solely on what makes learners different. It is equally about helping them recognise what they share, understand their role in their community, and value those around them.
At the heart of this approach is Ubuntu, an African philosophy captured in the well-known expression umuntu ngumuntu ngabantu – “I am because we are.” In the classroom, Chihwehwete says this means teaching children how to care for, respect and support one another.
It can be found in seemingly ordinary interactions: listening when someone speaks, helping a classmate who is struggling, celebrating another learner’s success and treating others with patience and empathy.
These lessons can sometimes be more powerful than any formal lesson plan.
“One moment that has stayed with me was when I noticed a learner quietly helping a classmate who was struggling with a task,” Chihwehwete recalls. Rather than making her feel different, the learner sat beside her, patiently explained the work and encouraged her, saying, “You can do it; I will help you.”
For Chihwehwete, watching the learner’s confidence return was a reminder that education extends beyond academic achievement. It is also about helping young people understand how their actions can affect others.
This aligns closely with The Love Trust’s emphasis on Christian values, which Chihwehwete believes complement Ubuntu through a shared focus on love, compassion, service, forgiveness and the dignity of each individual.
“Ubuntu reminds us that we are connected and that our well-being is linked to that of others, while Nokuphila’s values encourage us to love our neighbours, care for those in need, forgive one another and serve others with compassion,” he says.
This values-based approach reflects a broader role for schools in South Africa. Academic knowledge remains essential, but schools also have an opportunity to help learners develop the character and social conscience needed to contribute positively to their communities.
“I believe a school should be a place where learners experience the kind of South Africa we want to build. A society characterised by dignity, inclusion, equality, cooperation, compassion and respect for every person,” Chihwehwete says.
Ultimately, the hope is that these values will stay with learners long after they have left the classroom. Chihwehwete wants his learners to become adults who are kind, responsible, honest and resilient, while remaining proud of who they are and respectful of those who are different from them.
As South Africa marks Heritage Day, this may be one of the most important aspects of looking towards the future: recognising that the country we build tomorrow is shaped by the values we nurture in our children today.
As Chihwehwete reflects, Nelson Mandela’s words remain relevant: “Education is the most powerful weapon which you can use to change the world.” For teachers, that responsibility extends beyond developing knowledgeable learners. It is about helping shape compassionate, responsible and united citizens who can contribute to a better South Africa in the spirit of Ubuntu: I am because we are.
About The Love Trust
Founded in 2009, The Love Trust is a South African not-for-profit organisation (NPO) with a vision to nurture future generations of service-oriented leaders. We provide vulnerable children with quality Christian education that emphasises academic excellence, spiritual strength, and moral integrity. Together with our loyal partners, we create a resilient organisation that benefits the communities we serve, changing the lives of children by instilling self-belief and providing a haven for holistic development.
Our core focus areas in education include:
● Delivering quality Christian education from grades 000 to grade 8 at our Nokuphila School in Thembisa, Midrand.
● Training disadvantaged South African women as accredited early childhood development (ECD) teachers, qualified to teach Grades 000, 00, and Grade R school children nationally.
● Providing dynamic practical experience through a Work Integrated Learning (WIL) programme for ECD, Foundation and Intermediate Phase teachers at our Nokuphila School.
The future is bright for the learners of Nokuphila School, as our first intake of Grade 8 students began in 2024, and we are excited about some of the goals we have set for the organisation and look forward to continued growth in our programmes.
SUPPLIED.
