From South Africa to IES Hässelby

By 6E Reporters: Catherine, Viktor, Paulina, Tracy, Fredrik, and Sadik

How did a South African woman end up in Sweden?

At our school, IES Hässelby Strand, our principal Ms. Schäfer, from South Africa came to Sweden as an adult. She went to school and then to university in South Africa. Ms. Schäfer left South Africa for her husband’s job, but then fell in love with Sweden and stayed here.

She is really in to sports and has been a sports coach in South Africa. For an example she did sky diving and scuba diving in South Africa.

Ms. Schäfer is popular among the teachers and the students. She is a great leader for this school who takes time to listen to both teachers and students. She has big plans for this school, as building a Café and a football field etc. 

Ms. Schäfer hasn’t forgotten her roots in South Africa, for an example we had an operation work day, which is a day when you work at your parents work and earn some money for the school in South Africa. Our school got about 55000 kronor which is approximately 8200 US Dollars and 6000 Euro. With the money we had, we used to renovate her former school in South Africa.

Ms. Schäfer said that the challenge for her here in Sweden is, “not falling on ice and to put up with the cold and dark during the winter”, which period is from October to March.

Ms. Schäfer feels that she really has made a difference as teacher and now as a principal helping young people.

Mr. Joyce, Music Teacher and Ms. Baldwin, English Teacher at IES Hässelby Strand said, “Ms. Schäfer is a fantastic principal of this school.”