Today, Next Chapter Jozi took an important step in its journey: we visited Berea Primary School for our first reading and STEM session.
For us, this was more than an activity day. It was the beginning of the kind of work Next Chapter Jozi was created to do: showing up in schools, spending time with learners, listening to teachers and school leaders, and turning our mission into something real, practical and human.
Berea Primary School holds a special place in this story. It is not just another school on a list. It is the primary school attended by Jenovic Lumu, Founder of Next Chapter Jozi, and it sits close to the communities that shaped the reason this initiative exists. Returning there with Next Chapter Jozi made the session feel personal. It reminded us that education work is not abstract. It happens in classrooms, libraries, school halls and conversations with real learners who are full of energy, curiosity and possibility.
The children were lovely to work with. From the moment the session began, they brought excitement, questions and a willingness to participate. The reading part of the session gave learners a chance to engage with stories, words and ideas in a way that felt relaxed but meaningful. Reading is one of the simplest ways to open a learner’s world, but it becomes even more powerful when learners are encouraged, listened to and made to feel that their voices matter.
The STEM part of the session brought a different kind of energy. Learners were able to think, ask, observe and explore. This matters deeply to Next Chapter Jozi because STEM should not feel distant or reserved for better-resourced schools. Science, technology, engineering and mathematics should feel reachable. They should feel like tools learners can use to question the world, solve problems and imagine futures that are bigger than the limitations around them.
This first session showed why Next Chapter Jozi brings literacy and STEM together. Reading builds language, confidence and imagination. STEM builds curiosity, problem-solving and a sense of possibility. When learners are exposed to both, education becomes more than memorising information. It becomes a way to explore, understand and build.
We are especially grateful to Sir Ramaano, the principal of Berea Primary School, for welcoming us so warmly. His openness, kindness and support helped make the session possible. He was a delight to work with, and his willingness to engage with Next Chapter Jozi reflects the kind of school partnership we hope to build: respectful, practical and rooted in a shared belief that learners deserve opportunity.
For Jenovic, returning to Berea Primary School through this initiative was especially meaningful.
Berea Primary is part of my story, so coming back through Next Chapter Jozi felt very special. It reminded me why this work matters. These learners have so much energy and potential, and sometimes what they need most is for people to show up with care, resources and belief. Today was not just our first session. It was a reminder that the next chapter we talk about is real.
The session also helped us understand what our work must continue to become. Next Chapter Jozi is not only about donating books or speaking about education from a distance. It is about building relationships with schools, supporting reading culture, creating moments of STEM exposure, and helping learners feel seen in the process.
Our visit to Berea Primary School was a first step, but it also gave us a clearer picture of the road ahead. We want to continue developing sessions that are engaging, useful and respectful of each school’s context. We want to work with principals and teachers, not around them. We want to support libraries and reading spaces, not only collect books. We want to make STEM feel practical, exciting and possible. Most importantly, we want learners to know that their curiosity matters.
This session was also a reminder that student-led work can be serious work. As students ourselves, we understand how powerful it can be when young people support other young people. Next Chapter Jozi is still growing, but moments like this show that the mission is already becoming visible: learners reading, asking questions, trying something new and experiencing education as something alive.
To the learners of Berea Primary School: thank you for your energy, your questions and your joy.
To Sir Ramaano and the Berea Primary School team: thank you for welcoming us and for allowing us to begin this chapter with you.
The work continues, and this was only the beginning.
