Learner, school and NGO wins in #LightsOnAfterSchool poster competition

On Wednesday, 19 October 2022, the Department of Cultural Affairs and Sport, through its Youth and After School Programme Office, in partnership with Community Chest of the Western Cape and the Learning Trust, facilitated a poster competition in support of the Lights On After School campaign.

Every year, throughout the month of October, we shine the light on After School Programmes as part of this campaign. According to a 2018 Western Cape Government After School report, the education gap between resourced learners and their less resourced peers in no fee schools is between 4 – 6 years. Research points to ASPs as one of the most influential interventions in minimising these gaps through providing learners with new experiences, access to new knowledge, opportunities to find and explore their passions and homework support. Access to caring adults and safe spaces both of which are provided by quality after school programmes can also play a role in this wellbeing challenge.

The 2022 South African edition of the Lights On After School campaign, now in its third year, is focused on celebrating the work of the After School sector in supporting learner wellbeing and academic catch up efforts post the COVID-19 global pandemic. This year, the campaign kicked off with a Lights On After School Poster Competition. This afforded learners the opportunity to express themselves creatively and showcase how After School programmes have impacted their lives.

With more than 70 submissions from across the country, Maricia Fortuin, a grade 8 learner at Elsies River High School, was selected as the winner of the 2022 poster competition, securing resources for her school and after school organisation.

Representatives from the Youth and After School Programme Office, DCAS, The Learning Trust, The Community Chest of the Western Cape, and the Department of Education in the Western Cape, were all present to hand over the prizes. Chief Director: Cultural Affairs, Carol Van Wyk, who was one of the adjudicators, commented on the critical role the arts play: “The arts help us create hope and dreams. We cannot hope without imagination and the arts help us imagine alternative futures for ourselves, and they help us believe in our ability to achieve these dreams.”

Sibongile Khumalo, Executive Director (TLT) said: “We all agreed that Maricia presented us with the most visually appealing and creative poster that showcases optimism about her own future and even displays some ambition for her country. The graphs depict her knowledge of maths and science, and her use of tech imagery also evokes 21st century thinking. I wish her all the success she deserves!”

Maricia received a goodie bag, and her top spot meant that her After School Programme, Going for Gold, offered by the Equilibiurim Centre received R10 000 while her school receives a book donation of 10 000 books, a mix of textbooks and story books. 

More about Lights On After School

Launched by the Afterschool Alliance (U.S.) in October 2000, Lights On Afterschool! is an annual campaign that brings awareness to the importance of After School Programmes (ASPs), drawing attention to the many ways that these programmes support learners by offering them opportunities to learn new things and unlock their potential. The effort generates media coverage across the world each year. The events send a powerful message that millions more children need quality After School programmes.