Latest news with #EdenCollegeDurban
IOL News
04-07-2025
- Sport
- IOL News
Durban teens honoured to represent South Africa at World Gymnastics Champs
The five Durban gymnasts who represented South Africa in Bulgaria. Abigail Smulders - Danville Park Girl's High School, Riley Gouws - Our Lady of Fatima, Hanna Chengiah - Eden College Durban, Naluthando Mbelu - Maris Stella, and Thandolwethu Mthiyane - Durban Girl's High School. Image: Raelen Chengiah THEY left as teammates and returned as sisters. Five Durban teenagers arrived back in South Africa this week after competing at the FIG Rhythmic Gymnastics Junior World Championships in Bulgaria, a trip they say brought them pride, perspective, and lifelong friendships. Abigail Smulders, Riley Gouws, Hanna Faith Chengiah, Naluthando Mbelu, and Thandolwethu Mthiyane, all aged 14, represented South Africa at one of the sport's biggest international events for juniors. While they didn't return with medals, they say the experience was unforgettable, and one they'll carry into their future as gymnasts and young women. Speaking to the Independent on Saturday, the girls reflected on the excitement of walking into the arena in their South African colours, performing in front of a global audience, and soaking up every moment of their time in Sofia. Just hours after returning home, Hanna Chengiah, from Eden College Durban, was already back in the gym preparing for the SA Gym Games in October, where she has previously claimed top honours. She competed in Bulgaria despite injuries to her back and shin splints in both legs. 'I learnt that there's always more to learn,' she said, impressed by the high standard of teams from around the world. A personal highlight for Hanna was meeting Bulgarian star Stiliana Nikolova, one of her role models in the sport. Abigail Smulders, from Danville Park Girls' High School, said the lead-up to the competition was intense, with the girls spending every spare moment rehearsing their routines, while also fitting in schoolwork. 'My favourite part was the day after we competed, watching the finals. The top eight gymnasts in each apparatus were just incredible to see,' she said. 'Another highlight was exploring the city with the team. I'm so grateful I got to share it with such an amazing group of girls. They feel like sisters to me now.' Riley Gouws, from Our Lady of Fatima, said they trained up to 16 hours a week before leaving for Bulgaria. The hard work was demanding, but it paid off in team spirit and friendship. 'We all got really close. I've made friends I'll keep for life,' she said. 'One thing I've taken from this is that you need the right mindset to compete. If you don't believe in yourself, you won't perform your best.' Thandolwethu Mthiyane, from Durban Girls' High School, was struck by how warmly South Africans are viewed in Bulgaria. She said it was an honour to represent the country abroad, but staying focused in a high-pressure environment was a challenge. 'There were so many distractions. You have to block everything else out and just remember why you're there. Once you've finished your routine, that's when you can take it all in.' Naluthando Mbelu, from Maris Stella School, known as the 'mom' of the group and said their club routine was especially well received. 'The crowd loved it. We got so much applause,' she said. 'We weren't thinking about the scores, we were just proud to show people what we had prepared, and to represent South Africa.' She also spoke about the financial effort behind getting the team to Europe; which cost about R50 000 for each of them. 'Our parents worked like crazy to try and get us the money to go to Bulgaria.' Their fundraising efforts included raffles, selling goods, donations, and Back-a-Buddy campaign. 'This was my last competition as a junior. I turn 15 this year, so I'll move into the senior level next year. Competing at the Junior World Championships for a second time was just incredible,'Naluthando said.
The Citizen
25-05-2025
- General
- The Citizen
Eden College Eco-warriors bag prestigious award
EDEN College recently received its Platinum 1 Decade Award from Wessa for its outstanding eco achievements. The Platinum 1 Decade Award is a significant recognition given to schools that have achieved outstanding environmental stewardship and have been actively involved in the Wessa Eco-Schools programme for a decade. This award highlights a school's commitment to sustainability, environmental education, and creating a greener future. Also read: WATCH: Durban's eco-warrior puts the planet first Among the categories honoured are those that recognise the vital contributions of youth who are shaping the future of conservation, individuals whose dedication and passion inspire change, and corporates making significant strides toward sustainability. Additionally, groups and teachers are acknowledged for their collaborative efforts and innovative approaches to environmental education. Eden College Durban is busy with its annual Rhino Footsie Walk, which raises funds for Project Rhino. This term, they are also doing a beach clean-up at the Durban Mangrove site and raising funds for the Centre for Rehabilitation of Wildlife (CROW). For more from Berea Mail, follow us on Facebook, X and Instagram. You can also check out our videos on our YouTube channel or follow us on TikTok. Click to subscribe to our newsletter – here At Caxton, we employ humans to generate daily fresh news, not AI intervention. Happy reading!
Daily Maverick
30-04-2025
- Business
- Daily Maverick
Market masters: JSE Investment Challenge sees record participation as Eden College and UWC excel
The March winners of the JSE Investment Challenge have been announced, showcasing the sharpest minds in South Africa's investment landscape. The Johannesburg Stock Exchange (JSE) has revealed the March winners of its 2025 Investment Challenge. The University of the Western Cape (UWC) and Eden College Durban took top honours in two of the competition's four categories. Growing investment talent With a 52-year history behind it, the JSE Investment Challenge has seen remarkable growth, attracting 6,911 school teams and 1,761 university teams, with a total of 28,304 participants this year. The competition offers a simulated trading environment, where teams manage a virtual R1-million portfolio across four risk-based categories: Income portfolio (low risk) Equity portfolio (moderate risk) Speculator portfolio (high risk) ETF/ETN (exchange-traded funds/exchange-traded notes) portfolio Teamwork and tenacity pay off Eden College Durban's Rupee Renegades clinched the top spot in the income category, earning R13,923.65 in virtual income. After previous attempts in the competition without a win, the team's persistence and collaborative approach proved pivotal this year. 'I think our teamwork is very good. We split up and did a lot of research for different portfolios,' said Priyesh Pramjee, the group's team leader. Another team member, Kuvendren Govender, added that: 'One of the most important things to do is to just watch the market, see what the current trends are, and see if there's a big dip or not. You have to assess for yourself when you think it's worth taking that risk.' While the team was tight-lipped about their specific strategies, they cited a range of influences on their decisions, including global trade tensions, tariffs, the national Budget, and the performance of state-owned enterprises like Transnet. Their teacher, Ashmikka Supkaran, highlighted the team's self-reliance. The students tackled the challenge independently — an approach Supkaran believes ultimately worked to their advantage. Supkaran added that the team applied lessons from last year's experience, stressing the importance of monitoring market trends in stock trading, as these trends ultimately determined investment outcomes. Learning from experience In the university speculator category, UWC's Investment X team — comprising Diteboho Tshabalala (LLB, third year) and Sisonke Mfeketho (BCom in Financial Accountancy) — secured victory with a portfolio growth of 17.93%. Returning for their second year, the team credited their improved understanding of the competition's nuances for their success. 'Last year we did not understand the actual context about some of the categories,' they reflected. Their key takeaway for fellow participants: 'Invest in single stock futures and Top 40 companies,' Mfeketho said. The March winners were: Schools The CEK-Circle of Trust from John Bisseker Secondary School in the Eastern Cape won the equity category, with growth of 11.19%. The Broker Jokers of Afrikaanse Hoër Seunskool in Gauteng won the speculator category with 9.10% growth. CGN-Los Santos Incorporated of Bloubergrant High School in the Western Cape won the ETF/ETN category with 2.33% growth. University ShortSaleSharks of Stellenbosch University in the Western Cape won the ETF/RTN category with 2.27% growth. What this means for you Think you've got what it takes to out-trade the current winners? The JSE Investment Challenge remains open for 2025, offering high school learners and university students a risk-free platform to build practical investment skills using a virtual R1-million portfolio. Whether you're new to trading or refining your strategy, the competition provides hands-on experience with real JSE-listed shares, backed by monthly prizes and the chance to compete nationally. Last year's winners demonstrated how trial, error, and persistence lead to growth; now it's your turn. Schools and universities can register for the challenge at or DM
