Bongani & Bongani: Spreading the joy of science

Name: Bongani Gqweta and Bongani Pontsana
Community issue: Education
Hometown: Khayelitsha, Western Cape

Bongani Gqweta and Bongani Pontsana from Khayelitsha, Cape Town were concerned about the poor science pass rate amongst their peers and the general lack of enthusiasm for science subjects amongst the majority of students at their school. For their community action project they formed a team and established the first ever science club at their high school (Masiyile Senior Secondary School), as well as providing peer- to-peer tutoring in science subjects to their classmates through an after-school study club.

When the opportunity arose for 2012 enke: Trailblazer Program participants to apply for seed-funding grants to provide further support to their community action project, the Bonganis’ (as they are affectionately known) where one of the 20 project groups selected to be recipients. They shrewdly spent their grant on laboratory equipment such as conical flasks and Bunsen burners to afford their peers and fellow schoolmates the practical and hands-on science experience that is not available to many learners in under-resourced schools.