Sep 7, 2023
A Scientology Volunteer Minister from Soshanguve is bringing hope to learners struggling with reading for meaning.
Soshanguve, Gauteng, South Africa - September 7, 2023 —
Boitumelo Maswanganye, a Scientology Volunteer Minister from Soshanguve is bringing hope to learners struggling with reading for meaning. She just created a movement of assisting failing students with Learner Support Tools that has improved their school results.
Deeply concerned by the recent reports indicating that 82% of grade 4 learners cannot read for meaning, she rolled up her sleeves to tackle these barriers to learning head on. Kids in her after-school programme all describe how they now are able to learn better and have improved their results.
“It not only rehabilitates learners who had given up on study, but it encourages them to pursue further studies. Learners that come here go from not being able to understand what they read to now getting over 90% in school tests,” says Boitumelo. “It’s magical”.
Despite the hardships and challenges that come with living in a township, Boitumelo has found her passion for helping kids and helps learners with learning difficulties. "Being unable to learn can make you feel useless and see no purpose in pursuing education. This is heartbreaking for me to see and I couldn’t sit by knowing that there is something I could do about it," said Boitumelo.
Boitumelo, who herself is a graduate from the Scientology Volunteer Ministers Tools For Life programme, decided to apply her newly learned practical skills to her community with one of the practical tools she had just learned. “Knowing how study can determine how far you go in life, in my community a lot of learners are hit with barriers to learning”, continued Boitumelo.
She created an after-school programme for struggling kids and deals with helping read for meaning and overcome barriers to learning. Having noticed how many kids drop out of schools in Soshanguve, she thought that that course would be the best tool to use to change her area. And it worked.

"We must do all we can to support our kids, they are the future of this nations, if 82% of them cannot understand what they read then we must not waste time in remedying this serious situation,” said Boitumelo.
Not only did she decide to help, she further established her own NPO called Arise and Shine in order to create a platform for help where learners with learning difficulties can come and receive learner support.
According to her, understanding that kids are also human and are complex with their own personalities has also assisted her in understanding them properly. She gets them involved so that they can also experience that their ideas count and they are capable of solving problems. "The Tools for Life have helped me a lot because they provided me with the right tools for every situation. I know exactly how to help and encourage them now," added Boitumelo.
Parents and learners in the community have all unanimously expressed how much improvement they have seen already academically.
The "Tools for life" skills development program is delivered for free by the Scientology Volunteer Ministers as a way to empower communities and is applicable to all members of society. They host a variety of free seminars for communities and have trained thousands and thousands from their headquarters in Castle Kyalami on this effective program written by humanitarian L. Ron Hubbard.
Contact Info:
Name: SANDILE HLAYISI
Email: Send Email
Organization: CHURCH OF SCIENTOLOGY SOUTH AFRICA
Address: Gauteng, South Africa
Phone: +27 061 907 9325
Website: https://www.castlekyalami.org.za/
Social Media:
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/castle.kyalami
Twitter: https://twitter.com/africa_vm
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/castle_kyalami/?hl=en
Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCgDogs77JAdDTDV3p6Zc5IA/
Video URL: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=augbiBIkGeY
Release ID: 89106871
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