MAY 2024
On one of our site visits to grower partners in the Grabouw area, we had a chat to Jennerise Ziegelaar (age 20) who works in the Partial Care Centre on Dennegeur farm. Jennerise grew up on the farm and had the opportunity to be involved in various youth projects, supported by the Waitrose Foundation, while still at school. She attended Dennegeur Primary and then went on to De Rust High School.
Her intention was to study after school, but Jennerise put her plans on hold for a while, focusing on responsibilities at home and getting involved at the Partial Care Centre at Dennegeur. Her dream is to become a teacher and eventually to serve as a school principal.
Since April 2023 Jennerise has been looking after a group of 30 – 35 kids at aftercare during the afternoons from Monday to Friday. She assists with their homework and explains anything they don’t understand. She collects the kids at the school (on the farm) and fulfils an invaluable support function for the teachers. She receives input from the teachers about the progress of the kids and can follow up with anyone who needs extra help during the afternoons. The group is divided into different age groups and kept busy with various activities and revision if they are done with their homework for the day.
Jennerise believes it is important to maintain consistent discipline, but also to be gentle. The highlight of her day is when the kids share their personal stories with her and she can support them by listening, often having very significant breakthrough conversations with them. That is when she feels she can have the most impact in their lives.
Looking to the future, Jennerise knows that she wants to spend her time with the kids. She is grateful that she was given the opportunity to learn on-the-job, even before she had her official qualification. She has wonderful mentors in Mercila Scholtz, the Partial Care Centre Manager at Dennegeur (who is also her aunt), and Carina van Wyk, CEO of the Dennegeur Foundation. Jennerise feels supported and can take advantage of the opportunities for growth at Dennegeur which also includes involvement in projects and training through the Waitrose Foundation. We wish Jennerise an exciting journey of growth in her career going forward!
