The second delivery day came quicker than the first. Nombulelo High School was next on the radar. These SD cards were loaded by Asakhe Cunsulana and Ayabonga Qhubani, two volunteers, but we were part of the delivery team. Once again, it was the trio in Thandie Nqowana, Tristan Cooke and myself.
Shortly after arriving, a teacher ushered us into the school hall. The sun glowed on the smooth concrete floor as we meandered through dots of singular chairs socially distanced. The walls are clothed by the beautiful murals of inspirational leaders in Nelson Mandela and Siya Kolisi. The hall was dead quiet.
We took to the table to begin organising for the handout as students started dribbling in. The noise began to build with more and more students falling between the doors. Most of the chairs had now found an owner. The buzz had built. The energy flowing like a convection current through the room stopped me in my tracks. Wow.
Thandie, ever-present and always fearless, quietened the crowd and began to explain the process. Students sat quiet, intrigued by the prospect. Then, “Luviwe Kamana”, Thandie called as students went up one by one to join the crowd. The excitement began to multiply, although mainly carried by the anticipation for the students’ waiting for their names. By now, when a student’s name was called up, they would rise with their unique flair enjoying the moment.
The satisfaction from the name calls conjures an upbeat tone mixed with laughter and curiosity. Students inspected their SD cards piecing together the information Thandie had offered in her opening.
The reaction of the students was always an unknown prospect before we started delivering. Some were relatively unphased, and some seemed beyond belief at what this could offer whilst everyone else fell in the net between them.
Our role was to provide moments of happiness that could, in turn, result in a long-term benefit. Things were still early, but the team felt good, as if we were in the right place doing the right things. I hoped so.
The delivery concluded with a group picture, and the students were quickly out to catch what remained of the first period we had chewed into. The team shared personal highlights coated with emotions of relief and joy. Our job was done for the day, but the mission remained.
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