Mathematician with a big heart
Pierre Jacobs is a housefather at the Abraham Kriel Bambanani Benoni Satellite House and a Mathematician by profession. In 2019, Pierre decided that he could do more and extend his fatherly duties by helping other young people achieve their dreams…one equation at a time.
Pierre has started a Math tutoring project for Grades 10, 11 and 12. With the help of the local congregation, parents and the community at large. This selfless act by Pierre is slowly but surely becoming a community project. “It really broke my heart to see young people’s dreams being shattered because they did not receive a good enough mark for Mathematics. I want to make a positive contribution as lives are being destroyed due to a lack funds”, says Pierre. At the beginning of the year, Pierre and Rev Strydom of the Benoni North Dutch Reformed Church, decided to open up the classes to interested learners at no cost but asked those that can afford to donate to please do so. Donations received from this project will go directly to the Benoni Satellite House that forms part of Abraham Kriel Bambanani.
Pierre, as a housefather, has done great work with the girls at the Benoni Satellite House. Last year, one of the girls, Nelia*, was struggling with Mathematics and had received an average of 41% in her first term. But, by the end of her third term she received 61%, a great achievement in just a couple of months. Pierre’s leadership has gone beyond Mathematics with the girls as Nelia and another girl at the house, Ilaria*, assist Pierre with the Saturday classes. The girls assist with registrations and they help to teach the primary school children that attend lessons.
Pierre has big dreams for his Math project and hopes one day to be able to assist more children. “We started with a small group of learners but by mid-January, we had more than 100 learners attending. We believe that in due course, we will be able to build a strong Math school both academically and financially”, adds Pierre.
The lessons are run in English and Afrikaans every Saturday at the Benoni North Dutch Reformed Church. For more information regarding the classes or to donate, please contact:
Pierre Jacobs – 082 306 8478
Rev. Strydom – 083 449 3579
*Not their real names
Wiskundige met ‘n groot hart
Pierre Jacobs is die huispa by die Benoni satelliethuis van Abraham Kriel Bambanani en ook ‘n wiskundige. In 2019 het Pierre besluit dat hy meer kan doen en het sy vaderlike pligte uitgebrei om ander jongmense te help om hulle drome te bereik… een som op ‘n slag.
Pierre het, met behulp van die plaaslike gemeente, ouers en die gemeenskap, begin om vir jongmense van Graad 10 tot 12 ekstra Wiskunde klasse te gee. Hierdie hartsprojek van Pierre is stadig maar seker besig om te groei in ‘n projek vir die hele gemeenskap. “Dit het my hart gebreek om te sien hoe jongmense se drome aan skerwe spat omdat hulle wiskunde punte nie goed genoeg was nie. Ek wil ‘n positiewe bydrae maak tot lewens waar gebrek aan fondse jongmense kortwiek,” vertel Pierre. Aan die begin van die jaar het Pierre en ds Strydom van die Benoni Noord NG Kerk besluit om die klasse kosteloos beskikbaar te maak vir leerders wat belangstel. Hulle vra wel vir die wat dit kan bekostig om ‘n donasie te maak. Die donasies gaan dan direk vir die bedryf van die Benoni Satelliethuis, een van 7 satelliethuise van Abraham Kriel Bambanani.
As huisvader het Pierre reeds baie gedoen om die meisies wat in die Benoni satelliethuis woon te help. Laas jaar het Nelia* slegs ‘n gemiddeld van 41% in die eerste kwartaal behaal. Teen die einde van die 3de kwartaal het sy ‘n gemiddeld van 61% behaal. Pierre se leierskap het verder gegaan as net die wiskunde vir die meisies. Nelia en nog ‘n meisie wat in die huis woon, Ilaria*, help Pierre met die Saterdagklasse. Hulle doen registrasies en help om laerskoolkinders wat ook die klasse bywoon te onderrig.
Pierre het groot drome vir sy wiskunde projek en hoop om eendag nog meer kinders te help. “Ons het in Januarie met ‘n klein groepie begin, maar teen die middel van die maand was daar reeds meer as 100 leerders wat die klasse bywoon. Ons glo dat ons mettertyd ‘n wiskunde skool sal kan bou wat finansieel en akademies sterk sal staan,” sê Pierre.
Die Wiskunde lesse word elke Saterdag by die Benoni NG Kerk in Afrikaans en Engels aangebied. Vir meer inligting oor die klasse of om ‘n donasie te maak kontak asseblief vir:
Pierre Jacobs – 082 306 8478
Ds. Strydom – 083 449 3579
*Nie hul regte name
