Where hope grows and dreams are built
'Mr. and Mrs. Crous, unfortunately your child will never be placed in a school or complete matric. She will probably never be able to speak. However, we have for you the name and number of a very good facility for such children - These were the words my parents received when I was only four years old.'
'Today I stand before you as the Chairperson of the Jan Kriel RCL, a proud matriculant and proof that a diagnosis does not determine your future. My name is Kiara Crous, and I am incredibly proud to be part of the Jan Kriel family.'
'In January 2013, I walked into Jan Kriel as a Grade R learner, scared but excited, wearing my flowered skirt. I don't remember much about that first day, but there are three people I will never forget, Miss Mariette, Miss Hanneke and Aunt Maggie. They were my biggest supporters from day one. Today, thirteen years later, we are all still part of this special school, and for that I will always be grateful.'
'Jan Kriel didn't just teach me to read, write and do math. This school taught me to believe in myself. Here I learned that it doesn't matter where you start, but how hard you are willing to work to achieve your dreams. I was privileged to learn from incredible teachers – people who not only saw my academic abilities, but also my potential as a person. They encouraged me to do better each term than the previous one, to set goals and never give up when things got tough.'
'Sport has also played a big role in my life. Jan Kriel opened doors for me that I could only dream of. I have had the privilege of representing the Western Cape LSEN team at the South African Championships for the past five years.'
"Wearing the province's colours and competing against incredible athletes has been one of the greatest privileges of my life. These experiences have taught me discipline, perseverance and self-confidence."
'When I think of Jan Kriel, I don't think first of the classrooms or the sports fields, but I think of the people. The teachers who always believed I could. The therapists who supported me. The staff who worked every day with love and patience and the friends who became family. Here I learned that success does not mean being better than someone else. Success means becoming a better version of yourself every day. When I look back today on those words that my parents had to hear years ago, I realize how important it is to never underestimate someone's potential. Sometimes a child just needs someone who believes in him or her. '
'To every teacher and donor of Jan Kriel – Thank you for every sacrifice, every prayer and every word of encouragement. Thank you for your open hands and hearts. Without you I would not be standing here today, thank you for seeing every child for who they can become, and not just for the challenges they have. You change lives in ways that words can never fully describe.'
' In closing, I would like to say, don't be afraid to dream big. Your story is not written by your circumstances, but by your perseverance. Jan Kriel is not just a school. It is a place where hope grows, where dreams are built and where children learn that they are worth more than any label the world tries to put on them. Jan Kriel is not just a place where you go to school – it is a place you will forever call home.'
- Kiara Crous, RCL Chairperson, 2026
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