I am an education specialist for foundation phase learners at a rural primary school called Matjeni in Mpumalanga. I come into contact with many children with varied problems in this depressed and vulnerable community.
Recently, I was made aware of a young girl from grade 3 whose plight touched me in a profound manner. This young girl, who comes from an extended family, is living with her grandmother and siblings. Her mother lives in an informal settlement in Tembisa. During one of her visits to her mother, her mentally retarded brother accidentally struck her with his belt on her left eye.
Unfortunately, this damaged her iris, which began to protrude at a very unnatural angle. The poor girl was forced to come to school in that condition. You can imagine the stares and taunts from other pupils and the humiliation that this child had to endure from schoolmates.
Her educators reported the matter to me as their senior because they could no longer cope with her condition, which was fast deteriorating.
I then took it upon myself to inquire about the situation from her parents, who said the local public hospital could not help her. I approached the principal for permission and took her to an eye specialist in Nelspruit.
I was informed that her eye had been irreversibly damaged and had to be removed immediately as there were signs that cancer was setting in. The trauma the child was going through was palpable, but she bore it stoically.
The doctor made an appointment for the removal of the eye at a provincial hospital but, because of a long waiting list, the date was set for six weeks after the first consultation. The condition of the child was such that she could not continue at school. Because she was attached to me, I asked her family if she could stay with me, and they agreed.
She came to stay with my family and we became very close to her. In October last year, I took her to the hospital for the operation. We were informed that the eye-socket had to heal for six weeks before an artificial eye could be moulded.
During this time, she made us realise how precious our bodies and lives are and how we take them for granted. The greatest gift that this child brought was her unwavering faith in God and the goodness of humanity.
After six weeks, her artificial eye was fitted and it was a perfect match with her functioning eye. This brought immense delight in that young, innocent face. The child stayed with my family for the rest of the Christmas holidays and her family was grateful that we had become virtual relatives. The girl has adapted well to her new eye, her confidence has returned and she is now coping with her education.
The things we educators go through are sometimes so traumatic and demanding that they go beyond the call of duty, but I guess that is the nature of our calling!
Nomathemba Mngomezulu is an education specialist for Foundation Phase at Matjeni Primary School in Mpumalanga