Kamoka student exchange: Frans Nkoana

Last term the Boys' College enjoyed a visit from Frans Nkoana, a student at Phagameng high school in Limpopo. Below are accounts from Mrs Kerry Baytopp, deputy head at Kamkoka Bush School, and from Frans himself on how the exchange came about and how it went.

Summary of Frans Nkoana's exchange between Kamoka Bush School, St Stithians Boys' College, and Phagameng High School – By Kerry Batopp

by Kerry Baytopp

Frans Nkoana is 14 years old. He lives in Phagameng with his mother and grandmother. He attends Phagameng high school and is presently in Grade 9.

In November 2015 Frans Nkoana, (who was then in Grade 8) presented information about his school to 80 Grade 9 Boys' College students at Phagameng High School.

It was his confident attitude that struck the staff from the Boys' College and Kamoka. He and was later selected as a candidate for an “exchange programme” between Kamoka, the Boys' College, and Phagameng high. This came about through a suggestion made by the 2015 Grade 9 learners for their SSE (Social Sustainable Entrepreneurial project) task. For this project they are given an imaginary R10 000 for a sustainable idea that should benefit the community.  

The aims were simple: 

• To provide a platform for an individual to realise their talents and to assist in personal growth
• To provide a platform for insight into different cultures and education systems
• To provide a platform whereby an individual is exposed to opportunities outside of their present community
• For the individual to be that champion; sharing, motivating and leading fellow students

Once all stakeholders accepted the idea, Frans and his uncle were taken, by Kamoka, to the Boys' College for a tour of the school and the boarding houses.

Frans attended 21 days of Bush School with Grade 9 boys from the Boys' College in June 2016. Whilst at Bush School Frans quickly adapted to his new surrounds and to the Grade 9s. He participated in all the activities with enthusiasm and a level of determination.

He returned to the Boys' College for the entrepreneurial programme where he was accommodated in Collins House. In this time he joined the exchange student programme on a visit to the Apartheid Museum. He job shadowed at an optometrist, in the Drama department, at a Spur franchise, and he participated in a career guidance course. His exposure to Joburg life was further enhanced by spending a weekend with two St Stithians Grade 9 boys who he was at Bush School with.

The experience for Frans was certainly one that grew him as an individual and exposed him to different facets of life. A mentorship programme will be established for Frans in the near future.

Frans Nkoana – in his own words