Jan Kriel School is a special school that accommodates learners with barriers to learning from Grade R to Grade 12. The school’s vision is, “We develop potential: Where learners with barriers to learning are empowered for the future.”
Lister Maramba, a Grade 6 learner, is one of the learners who had a confidence boost at the school in line with the school’s theme for 2022 to make a difference – day by day, step by step.
Lister is hearing impaired with a cochlear implant. She was seen at Carel du Toit Centre from before her second birthday. There she met Mariette Nosworthy, an Early
Interventionist, who was one of the team members involved with her until Grade 3. Lister was transferred to Jan Krielskool at the beginning of her Grade 4-year.
While participating in the Eisteddfod when she was younger, Lister wore a beany which she did not want to take off and which she pulled over her ears to cover her cochlear implants.
Nosworthy accompanied her to the Eisteddfod and after observing Lister’s discomfort with her hearing aids being visible, she wrote the poem “Proudly Me” as a gift to Lister to illustrate to her that she can be proud of herself and her abilities. Reciting the poem has given Lister so much confidence, and seeing her embrace her impairment has been heart-warming.
Visit the WCED’s YouTube channel (https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCn4ZxXlyQ5Fxaccgcrjn-zQ) to watch Lister’s recitation of the poem “Proudly Me”.
