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Education must be combined with social responsibility

On Tuesday 25th of May, a Matric student was stabbed to death by a fellow pupil on the Cape Flats. The incident was apparently gang-related.


For those children caught up in this situation of rife gangsterism, violence and drugs, and for the more privileged outsider observing these circumstances, the state of affairs seems hopeless. In an environment where learning is not safe, education has become secondary to personal survival.


However, for those of us who know that these learners are yearning to change their circumstance, we view the current state of affairs merely as an opportunity to institute that change.


At Step Up for Life, we believe that changing one’s situation is inherently linked to change in social attitudes: attitudes in understanding how an individual’s behaviour can motivate great change in their community, and how an individual’ s actions can contribute to the enhancement of society.


Step-Up 4 Life provides a platform upon which learners are able to identify themselves as being part of a community – whether local or cross-continental. Thereby promoting self-confidence, identification of alternate ways of conducting one’s life, building cross-cultural local and international friendships, and instilling the belief that they too are worthy of contributing to society. Ultimately, a generation of socially aware, confident children will grow into a friendlier more empathetic global community.


On the 11 June, due to the FIFA 2010 World Cup, the global community will arrive at our doorstep, and what better time than this to educate our learners in the lessons of social responsibility?


FIFA has adopted, as its official drive for the World Cup, The “1 Goal Campaign”. This campaign aims to use the powerful force of football to ensure that “education for all” is the legacy left behind by this World Cup. It aims to unite footballers, fans, charities and organisations throughout the world, and has called on world leaders set to attend the World Cup Education Summit, to unite in this cause.


As part of this World Cup goal, Step-Up 4 Life has been affiliated to the international organisation Friends Without Borders which has at its core, the belief that World Peace is attainable through creating friendships across cultures and countries, using the simple mode of letter writing.


The world is a stage and South Africa is currently occupying the lead role.
For the forthcoming weeks, the world will be our audience, and as a country we need to capitalise on this attention. We must utilise the international exposure the Football World Cup brings, to help advance the wellbeing of our society. Sport is a unifying entity and thus one that can unite the world in transforming our educational climate and engendering the ideas of social responsibility as a medium for personal development.


Our success in this endeavour will depend on both our individual and collective performance.
Now is the time to show your support.


In the words of local celebrity JR, and his overnight radio hit: Lets “make the world cup circle bigger”, and “show dem” what we can achieve for our youth!


If you are a school wanting to participate, or an organisation who wants to assist us in our dream, or simply an individual who wants to volunteer their services, please contact us at info@stepupforlife.org.za and visit us http://www.stepupforlife.org.za/

World Cup Challenge kicks-off at Schools in Cape Town

Despite the sudden drop in Cape Town weather last week, children’s hearts were being warmed, when Step-Up 4 Life launched the World Cup Challenge at two high schools in Cape Town, South Africa.

Although some of our learners were still consumed with the demands of the end of the examination week, they selflessly put their mathematical theories, and scientific formulas aside to engage in our World Cup Challenge’s kick-off workshop.


Learners, ranging from grades 8 to 10, at Zwaanswyk and Cape Town High School, gathered at their computer stations and wrote preliminary emails to their friends from Roosevelt Middle School and Lighthouse Middle School in California. With restrained and excited urgency, they carefully typed in their personal login details and began eagerly introducing themselves with such animated statements as:


“I am so excited to hear from you!”


“I have never been overseas!”


“You can come and visit us in Cape Town!”


“Bafana Bafana is going to win the World Cup!


These were just some of the comments I read while glancing across the room of keen young learners typing carefully to their new friends. Interviewing some of the children revealed their bubbling excitement:


Keshia Ruiters, Grade10, cannot wait to make new friends. She is curious about what children from other places go through as teenagers, and wants to encourage them if they have any issues. She also wants to be able to “take the World Cup to them” through her correspondence, as they are unable to be here in person.


Adam Cope in Grade 10 wants to make sure that they know “we are not living in a forest” and that we are actually educated! He is also keen to discover whether or not the things he sees on TV about Americans are true!


As I watched these young learners, it struck me that I was witnessing the beginning of potentially life-changing friendships for them. For many, the dream of making a long-lasting friendship with someone from another continent was now suddenly a reality. This international friendship will help instil the confidence, and encouragement required to prove that they too have something to offer the world, that they too play a vital role in society.


And this is just the beginning of this fantastic initiative!

Step-Up 4 Life drives the World Cup Challenge in South Africa

Step-Up 4 Life and Friends Without Borders collaborated in driving The World Cup Challenge campaign amongst high schools across the globe this week.

The World Cup Challenge seeks to unite children internationally, facilitate greater understanding of different communities, and promote global friendships amongst children. This is built on the simple, yet beautiful premise, that connecting children from different countries will allow them to literally grow into a friendlier, more empathetic world community! Thereby, ultimately promoting World Peace.

When learners at Roosevelt High School in Oakland California issued us with the challenge to connect with them during the FIFA World Cup 2010, we of course “stepped up” to that challenge!

Through a safe learning application called epals, learners were able to connect to their specific epal in California and thus initiate their international friendships.

Help us connect children across the globe.

Help us promote a friendlier global community.

You too can be a part of the journey towards World Peace.

Donations to Step-Up 4 Life Trust can be made at:

Step-Up 4 Life Trust
First National Bank (FNB)
Account Number : 62260687531
Branch Code : 201511

For more details, or to get your school involved and connected, email

Step-Up 4 Life at: info@stepupforlife.org.za and visit our website www.stepupforlife.org.za