Christiana School for the Blind and Partially Sighted has announced that Grade 8 learner Refilwe Ramodia has taken 1st place at the Inkosi Albert Luthuli Oral History Project national competitions, held in East London. It’s Refilwe’s second consecutive year qualifying for nationals, and this time she brought the crown home, travelling with her mentor Ma’am Segone (with support from Ma’am Magalane).

Run by South Africa’s Department of Basic Education (DBE), the programme invites learners to research living histories—interviewing elders, preserving community memory and presenting their findings through structured oral presentations, writing and creative forms. The 2025 national event took place 21–23 August at the Mandla Makupula Education Leadership Institute in East London under the theme “Unity and Solidarity – The Bedrock of Building a Democratic and Cohesive Nation.” Learners also visited key heritage sites as part of the learning programme.  

The project—established in 2005—targets Grade 8–11 learners with an interest in History and Social Sciences and has long served as a pipeline for research, public-speaking and heritage preservation skills in schools across all nine provinces.  

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DBE says the competition aims to:

• Promote social cohesion and nation-building by recording lived experiences in communities;

• Strengthen research, writing and presentation skills among learners and teachers; and

• Encourage young people to value archives, museums and oral sources as part of South Africa’s democratic story.  

Why Refilwe’s win matters

For a learner from a special school to excel on a national, mainstream platform sends a powerful message about inclusion and the depth of talent across the North West. Refilwe’s achievement showcases:

• Commitment to rigorous research and confident public speaking;

• The strength of teacher mentorship at Christiana School for the Blind and Partially Sighted; and

• The role of families and communities who share their stories to keep local history alive.

The school’s leadership praised Refilwe’s consistency—qualifying for nationals two years in a row—and thanked educators and partners who helped prepare her project.

Winners are typically recognised by provincial education authorities and often go on to support oral-history clubs, museum outreach and school heritage projects. The DBE’s timeline for 2025 includes post-event verification and provincial feedback, after which schools integrate lessons learned into classroom practice and clubs for the next cycle.  

From Christiana to East London and back, Refilwe has shown how a single, well-researched story can travel—and inspire. Well done, Fifi!

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-The VIP Team 

-CSBPS

-DBE

-SAGOV 

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