My eerste kennismaking met Juf. Zizi was lank voordat ek haar as onderwyser by Hoërskool Aliwal-Noord ervaar het. By die provinsiale Landsdienskamp van 2014, wat in Despatch gehou is, is ek per ongeluk in Juf. Zizi se groep, saam met al die Gr.8- en 9-Landsdieners ingedeel! Al was ek net 9 jaar oud, het Juf. Zizi my soos ‘n ware lid van haar groep laat voel en dít is wat ek ook in later jare by ANHS ervaar het. Juf. Zizi het al Landsdiens se liefdes uitgeleef! Sy was altyd bereid om te help, besig om planne te maak, nuwe idees uit te dink om Landsdiens vir ons lekker te maak én om ons meer van naasteliefde en omgee vir mekaar en die natuur te leer.
Sy was sedert 1988 betrokke by Landsdiens en het in 2018 die hoogste toekenning wat ‘n Landsdiensvolwassene kan kry, ontvang, naamlik die Goue Protea-toekening. By ANHS was Juf. Zizi sedert 2009 by Landsdiens betrokke, maar sy het ook ongelooflike waardevolle werk by President’s Awards, Rotary Interact én by die hantering van ons biblioteek, gedoen. Almal by die Ons-Gee-Om Landsdiensklub wens Juf. Zizi ‘n geseënde en gesonde aftrede toe. Juffrou het so baie kinders geïnspireer en gemotiveer…ons salueer Juffrou!
- Marnus Snyman
When I started high school, I had already heard the best things about Juffrou Zizi from my older brother and his friends and everyone who had encountered her. So I was pretty excited to meet her and experience what I’d been hearing for myself. When I finally did meet her, I remember thinking how attentive and present she was. At every Land service afternoon, she gave her all and was fully devoted to whatever we were doing.
One of the most important things Juffrou Zizi taught me was to take Land service seriously and to not just see it as an extra mural activity, but to see it as something I’m contributing to others and ultimately myself. One of my favourite club camps is one she took us on in grade 8. She told us that there were no specific rules and that we were just there to enjoy nature and one another, I appreciated that camp so much because she demonstrated so much love and care and kindness towards us, which made us do the same for one another. She is one of the bravest women I’ve met, because she never made us do something that she didn’t do with us. Juffrou Zizi meant the world to everyone at Land service, she invited us into her life and her heart and she made Land service a safe space for us to create memories and friendships and she gave us opportunities to excel at Land service, because she believed in us and the contribution we could make in the movement. I have personally made Land service a priority because of Juffrou Zizi and her wisdom and guidance.
I wish Juffrou Zizi a retirement as beautiful as her heart. I hope she gains as much peace and happiness from her retirement as she has given us over the years. And even though we’re all going to miss her immensely, no one deserves a happy and tranquil life and retirement more than she does and we wish her nothing short of that. – Benathi Beje
Om totsiens vir Juffrou Zizi te sê, is een van die einaardigste gevoelens. Die ANHS Landsdiens het nooit gedink die dag sou aanbreek nie! Hoe kan so baie tye van lag, sing, kampkos maak en spanwerk – speletjies saam met haar tot ‘n einde kom? Hoe kan ons ooit totsiens waai aan ons mees avontuurlustige kampmoeder?
Juffrou Zizi, met haar mamma-hart, amper soos n taxi, was altyd bereid om nog passasiers op te laai, selfs as die taxi vol was! Jy kon sommer sonder afspraak, al jou probleme voor Juffrou Zizi oopvou en met ’n huppel in jou stap die lewe aanpak na so ‘n gesprek. Van handwerk tot kamp-spyskaart, was daar nooit ‘n ou, holrug-geryde voorstel nie! Dit was altyd vars en opwindend! En altyd ‘n TREFFER! In Juffrou Zizi se teenwoordigheid, was daar altyd tyd vir speel, maar as dit tyd was vir werk, het jy gewerk! Bewaar jou siel as jy slaplê terwyl die ander werk
- Wium Smit
A Counselor, Landsdiens Ma and a pillar of strength for the Land Service club at ANHS. From being a Land Service member herself during high school, Juffrou Zizi Rens would end up becoming one of Aliwal Norths’ most enthusiastic Land Services Counselors for Alie Land. She made a mark on this school and unlike the markers teachers use, hers is permanent.
Juffrou Zizi was the heart of Land service. The love she has for Land Service radiated and that made us become more dedicated and hardworking and ensures that everything we did in Land Service, we did with love. Alie Land is sad to have to say goodbye to such a wonderful teacher, mother figure and cornerstone. Thank you. Thank you for instilling a love for nature, kindness and giving into all the hearts that you could. Enjoy retirement!
An article would never be enough to show you how much we will miss you!
- Akhona Makhomfana