Media statement: Helping Hand celebrates Mother Language Day with stories of Afrikaans heroes at Laerskool Louis Leipoldt

Media statement

Solidarity Helping Hand

21 February 2012

Helping Hand celebrates Mother Language Day with stories of Afrikaans heroes at Laerskool Louis Leipoldt

Solidarity Helping Hand believes in the promotion and protection of mother tongues. In celebration of International Mother Language Day today, the organisation read stories about Afrikaans heroes to the pupils of Laerskool Louis Leipoldt.

The event saw Dr Dirk Hermann, Chairman of Helping Hand’s Board, reading the story of Japie Greyling, a brave Afrikaans boy, to the pupils. While he read the story, six of the school’s pupils did a moving re-enactment of it.

Andries Hendrik Potgieter, upcoming singer and ambassador of Helping Hand’s Career Guidance Services, thereafter treated the pupils to a selection of familiar Afrikaans songs like “Bobbejaar klim die berg” and “Ta’ Hessie se wit perd” and the pupils joined in heartily.

Dr Hermann encouraged parents and teachers to read and tell more Afrikaans stories to ensure that Afrikaans is kept alive.

“Not just stories, their stories. Every child has a story and we must see to it that we create a culture where we teach the children their stories,” says Dr Hermann. “History forms a child and shows him where he fits in. Our plea is that schools must retell history accurately.”

The event was held in support of Vriende van Afrikaans’ campaign on mother tongue education.

Media contact:

Juanita du Preez

Solidarity Helping Hand

Tel: 012 644 4390

Cell: 074 500 3915

E-mail: juanita@helpendehand.co.za