“Come in please Head Boy and Head Girl,” says the Principal, “Congratulations!” she shakes our hands.

There is a lot of work to do on the SRC. The Principal wants to see change: in the marks, in the attitude of learners. There is the Matric Farewell to plan and the soup kitchen to expand. The list is long.

The days that follow include SRC meetings and decision making. I know many are surprised that I am Head Girl, but Nombulelo says they will soon get to know me. She says they will see my strength and compassion. She says that I am a good leader because of my heart, and my ability to feel for other people and bring in an energy to uplift. Her words make me feel good.

* * * * *

“Mama?”

“Ewe Gcina.” We are at home cooking supper.

“I was thinking, it would do us good to be taught by different teachers, to experience a new environment. It will improve our marks.”

“Yooooh Gcina, this sounds big. Ucinga ntoni?”

“Those rich snobs at that school in town – what if we had weekend study groups with them?”

“Your tone already says you don’t like them much.”

“No Mama, it’s just that they have everything, and maybe they should share.”

“Gcina you can never assume to know somebody else’s life. Nobody does. Some of us … our problems are visible and abanye ke their worries are hidden from the world’s eyes.”

“Kodwa ke Mama should I run this past Moses and the other SRC members? Then if we are in agreement I can tell the Principal.” I am excited by my idea to raise our pass rate. Why should the rich school get everything?

“Yes Sisi, you should, but your attitude needs to shift. You have good ideas Gcina. Do not let your emotions get in your way.”

“Yes Mama.”

The next day I bring it up at the SRC meeting. I see some heads nodding but there are questions – about transport, whether to swap schools for venue use, and so on.

“We don’t need them. If we commit ourselves to studying and have our own teachers available to help us, we can do it on our own,” one SRC member argues.

“No, it is not about needing anyone. They have something to gain from us, as much as we have something to gain from them,” another stands up for me.

By the end everyone agrees that Moses and I take the idea to the Principal.

The next morning Moses and I arrive early to meet her.

“Gcina how would we get there as a group? I don’t see them jumping at the opportunity to come to us. Some of our students cannot pay for transport to and from town,” says Principal Manzini.

“We considered that Principal, and Moses and I thought that we could raise funds by asking for donations from the community.”

“Okay that sounds doable. I will have our secretary draft that letter. But first I will write a letter to the Principal of Hillview High School and email it.”

I smile and Moses winks at me.

“This is good guys. I will help, and let’s see what happens,” says Principal Manzini.

“This is going to be great. You know I read a quote once. It said: ‘When you know better you want better’.” I tell Moses outside the office in the passage.

“Now, we need to think about the Matric Dance.”

“Yes of course,” I say, although I couldn’t care less about the Matric Dance.

***

Tell us what you think: What do you think of Gcina’s idea?