Communication is key

South Africa is the most unequal country in the world. 

For 21 years, Christel House South Africa has been working to break the cycle of poverty for Cape Town's most vulnerable children, offering them a holistic, quality education that is free, character-based, career-focused, and aimed at mitigating the root causes of poverty.

Christel House joined the Wealth Inequality Initiative in 2020, developing the Simunye ('We are one') project: 5 schools in Cape Town, 2 serving privileged students and 3 serving underprivileged learners, organise regular exchanges among their students in both recreational and learning environments. By playing and studying together, the students get to know each other, which helps minimise mutual biases and develop meaningful networks that can change their lives. 

In Perspectives #3, we asked 12-year-old Ana from the affluent St. Cyprian School, and 12-year-old Lisakhanya from Christel House for their personal view on some essential aspects of life: their struggles, happiness, dreams… and what they have learnt through Simunye. 

"Communication is 'key' says Lisakhanya". It's key to exchange, to understand each other and gain the knowledge that helps you grow.

And in Simunye, communication is the first step to fight bias and bridge the wealth and opportunity gap.