When people hear the name Manenberg they immediately connect it to gangsterism, vandalism and substance abuse. With five schools situated in the community, Shamieg Fredericks, principal at Phoenix High School, and his staff want to change this perception and make their school the beacon of hope and resilience on the Cape Flats.
“The school is situated within a challenging community and my staff and I are striving to provide quality learning opportunities amidst the complex socio-economic realities of its surroundings. Not only being a poor community in spirit but also poor in the mind. I realised that without partnerships the learners will remain ‘poor’. The school, often in collaboration with various organisations, including the police, actively seek to offer programmes that address the holistic development of its learners and the career exhibition on Tuesday 22 July, is an example of collaboration,” says Fredericks.
Manenberg was established in 1966 as a “Coloured” township and became home to families forcibly removed from areas like District Six and Constantia. This history of displacement and systemic inequality has shaped the community leading to struggles with poverty, unemployment, substance abuse and gang violence.
Manenberg was forged in the struggle
“With this background the community of Manenberg was forged in the struggle, not a political one but a survival of a systematic destruction of moral values. At Phoenix High we want to change this by forging and bending the mind of the learners and their parents to develop it into a powerful yet influential tool for humanity as a priority.
“The school bares the fibres of a nation rising up out of the ashes, ready to stand tall but is battered from within. The people never recovered from the scars of the forced removal from District Six and Constantia. The school was built in the 1980s and is not merely a place of academic instruction, the school is a critical safe haven and pillar of hope for the community,” he says.
The daily challenges faced by learners and teachers are immense, ranging from the pervasive threat of gang violence, substance abuse to the deep-rooted impact of socio-economic hardship.
“The learners survive this brutal onslaught on their lives purely because (teachers) believe in them. Despite these treacherous obstacles, Phoenix High remains committed to its core mission, namely education. We provide quality education under difficult circumstances. It is noted that the quality of education in impoverished schools has left them far behind and they will never be able to catch up.
“While creating awareness about the dangers of making wrong choices, we aim to keep the young people engaged in positive activities, such as after-school sports and arts programmes, like the Western Cape MOD programme (mass participation, opportunity and access, development and growth programme), and career guidance events, are all assisting in the holistic development of the learners. By exposing them to alternative pathways away from gang involvement it is crucial to offer (learners) a sense of purpose and belonging, and a vision for a future beyond their immediate circumstances,” he says.
The school grapples with limited resources
The strength of Phoenix High lies in its rooted existence within the Manenberg community and besides its willingness to collaborate with Manenberg police, other external partners include the local neighbourhood watches, provincial government departments and NGOs. A network of support often rallies around the school to enhance safety, provide resources and offer additional learning opportunities. Projects at the school focus on establishing support of charitable foundations.
“Like many schools in similarly disadvantaged areas, Phoenix High often grapples with limited resources, including the need for better infrastructure, specialised equipment and sufficient staffing to manage large class sizes and address the complex needs of its student population. Attracting and retaining dedicated (teachers) in such challenging environments is also a constant concern.
“In a community often seen as hopeless and violent, defined by its struggles, the school strives to be a place where young people can find safety, gain knowledge and ultimately rise above their circumstances, embodying the spirit of its namesake – the mythical bird that regenerates from ashes. The efforts of the dedicated (teachers) and support staff, the resilience of its learners and the support of the wider community keeps the flame of hope alive at Phoenix High, we will rise from the ashes and soar to the skies once again,” Fredericks says.
