New solutions for old problems were the name of the game at this year’s annual speech contest held at the Huguenot Memorial Museum.
For the event, Franschhoek’s local museum invited learners from Groendal Secondary School and Franschhoek High School to share their essay on various topics pertaining to the museum.
Grade 10 and 11 learners spent hours in their town museum researching the various topics for the competition.
After research, the essays had to be written and the work ended with the speech contest at the venue last Thursday (23 May).
Tanatswanashe Togara, a learner of Groendal Secondary, explained the importance of the museum as “historic libraries” and the need for museums to find new business modules to remain sustainable.
Financial sustainability, the importance of preserving culture and history as well as interactive displays were a few of the suggestions of the young people for keeping the doors of museums open.
The learners who make it through the next round will compete against youngsters representing the Jan Danckaert Museum in Porterville, the Wheat Industry Museum in Moorreesburg and the SA Fisheries Museum in Velddrif.
Moses delivered a motivational speech urging that the museum’s commitment to the competition showed its commitment to education.
“Never compromise,” he said. “Stand up for yourself, you have shown us you can do it. All of you are winners in your own way.”
Moses urged competitors to rise above their circumstances. “Don’t let anyone tell you you can’t make your dreams come true with hard work.”
Mbali Kofi (Franschhoek High), Haylah Mwila (Groendal Secondary) and Vuyokasi Williams (Franschhoek High) impressed with their essays and speeches, and they were named the winners of the Franschhoek leg of the competition.
Mbali won with her essay on “People do not realise the importance of preserving our heritage” and Haylah spoke of “Our museums are facing many challenges in current times”. Vuyokasi took third place with her essay topic “People do not realise the importance of preserving our heritage”.
The three winners will soon take part in the regional competition.
