Choirs to Improve English Literacy of SA Children

Dear Supporters,

Because of you, the grounds of Wembley College in Greytown were filled with music and inspiration on August 15th for our Siyacula 2025 festival! Your generosity brought together students from Cool Air, Macongco Primary, Indlovana Primary, and Tholinhlanhla Primary for a day of performance, learning, and empowerment.

This year marked a special milestone. The theme, "Everything Starts with a Seed," was brought to life through the first-ever complete sponsorship of the event by the Starke Ayres seed company. Their support, made possible by your continued belief in our mission, allowed us to plant seeds of confidence in these young learners.

The "Everything Starts with a Seed" theme was woven into the very fabric of the day. The choirs performed a moving rendition of a song with the same title, celebrating potential and growth. In an exciting development, Starke Ayres was so impressed by the students' talent that they will be featuring the performance in an upcoming social media campaign. Your support has not only given these students a stage for a day but a platform to reach a national audience!

Your gift also enabled a vital, hands-on learning experience that connected performance with purpose. The team from the Umvoti Fire Protection Association didn't just talk about fire safety; they brought it to life. Students got to see a real fire truck up close and were fascinated by a demonstration from a highly trained fire sniffer dog, which can identify fire-starting suspects. The workshop then challenged the students' creativity, asking them to improvise a Fire Safety song on the spot, turning a crucial lesson into a joyful, musical activity. This practical session on sustainability is a core part of our Siyacula Legacy Project's mission to promote nature conservation.

The energy of the day reached an emotional peak with the arrival of South African recording artist Majozi. A long-time supporter of charitable causes in Greytown, Majozi generously lent his voice and star power to the event. He joined the combined choirs on stage for a powerful performance of the theme song, "Everything Starts with a Seed," and a unifying rendition of "We are the World." Seeing the students sing with such passion alongside a professional artist was a truly unforgettable moment—a moment you helped create.

All the schools showed exceptional commitment, and the growth in the students' confidence and English fluency was tangible throughout the day. The competition was incredibly close, but after a day of outstanding performances, the judges named the Cool Air Secondary School choir the overall Siyacula 2025 winner!

This incredible day was a true community effort. We are deeply thankful for our host, Wembley College, and the generous support from Majozi, Starke Ayres, Odies Meats, Pannar Seed, Pick n Pay School Club, Aheers Supermarket, The Beast Foundation, Plennegy, the Greytown Collaborative Education Initiative, the Department of Basic Education (uMzinyathi District and Umvoti Circuit), the Champagne Valley Trust, and PSI Projects.

Most of all, we are thankful to YOU. Your belief in these students makes everything possible.