The Windybrow Arts Centre and Camp I Am are proud to announce the Spelling BeeHive 2025, to be held on Saturday, 13 September 2025 at the Ramolao Makhene Theatre, The Market Square, Newtown, Johannesburg. The Spelling Bee finals will also be live-streamed on the Camp I Am Facebook page, ensuring that families, educators and communities across the country can join in the excitement. The Spelling BeeHive forms part of The Market Theatre Foundation’s Open Day programme, which runs from 12 – 13 September 2025.
Building on the past two years of impactful collaboration between Camp I Am and The Windybrow Arts Centre, the 2025 iteration of the Beehive will continue to empower learners with the joy of literacy, critical thinking and public expression.
The 2025 BeeHive has seen remarkable growth. A total of 43 schools from the Gauteng Department of Education’s Johannesburg South District entered the competition, a record number for the programme. After an exciting semi-final round held on 6 September 2025, the top 21 schools advanced to the finals.
This expansion reflects the increasing recognition of the BeeHive as an impactful, literacy-driven competition that combines academic rigour with creativity and performance. In addition, the winners of the Creative Writing, Drama & Storytelling and Debate competitions will present their work.
This year’s competition has been grounded in 1,200 carefully curated words from the Grades 7–9 curriculum. These words were selected to reinforce the school syllabus, while broadening learners’ vocabulary and comprehension. In this way, the BeeHive bridges classroom learning with public performance, ensuring that learners are not only memorising words but also understanding and applying them in meaningful ways.
An additional highlight of this year’s programme has been the introduction of the Spelling Worker Bees (SWBs). These are Education Assistants funded by the Social Employment Fund and trained by Camp I Am to support learners in preparing for the competition. The SWBs worked alongside schools, teaching learners spelling rules, patterns, mnemonics, prefixes, and suffixes, giving them structured tools and strategies to tackle challenging words.
Camp I Am’s Executive Director, Kai Crooks-Chissano, describes the BeeHive as a unique literacy and enrichment programme designed to go beyond the traditional spelling bee format.
“The BeeHive draws inspiration from the buzzing energy of a hive, where every learner contributes, collaborates and grows. Unlike conventional competitions that cater to a narrow set of skills, the BeeHive has been structured to support different learning styles. Learners engage not only through spelling but also through related activities that incorporate writing, performance, and word-in-context challenges—making literacy accessible, inclusive and fun,” says Crooks-Chissano, adding that at its heart, the initiative is about building confidence, nurturing communication skills, and inspiring young people to see the richness of language as a gateway to future opportunities.
The BeeHive is more than just a spelling contest. In an educational climate where reading proficiency and literacy are critical challenges, the BeeHive provides a platform for learners to strengthen their skills, build self-esteem, and perform on stage in front of peers, educators and their communities. The initiative has not only boosted learners’ confidence but also empowered the Worker Bees themselves as community role models. “The BeeHive gives learners a stage to shine in ways that go beyond textbooks. It’s about confidence, collaboration and connection. When young people spell a word correctly in front of an audience, they aren’t just recalling letters—they’re affirming that their voices and abilities matter,” concludes Crooks-Chissano.
Gerard Bester, Head of The Windybrow Arts Centre, adds that the Spelling BeeHive aligns with its longstanding mission of using the arts to transform lives and open opportunities for young people in inner-city Jo’burg. Bester further says the partnership with Camp I Am and other organisations has amplified The Windybrow Arts Centre’s impact in enabling young people to learn through interactive play, fun and a deep sense of community.
States Bester, “The BeeHive sits at the intersection of education and the arts. We are proud to host a competition that blends literacy, performance and creativity in such a dynamic way. This is how we invest in the next generation—by giving them spaces to learn, compete healthily and thrive beyond the classroom. We’re therefore grateful for the generous support of the Gauteng Department of Education, Johannesburg South District, City Lodge Hotel Newtown, The Market Theatre Foundation, Nando’s, The Pink Room and the Johannesburg Festival of Women Writers for their invaluable contributions in helping us create a platform where young voices can shine.”
Spelling BeeHive 2025 Finals promise a memorable morning of inspiration, entertainment, and celebration of literacy. Learners from the top 21 schools will step into the spotlight, demonstrating their spelling skills, composure under pressure and love of language.
Event Details
Date: Saturday, 13 September 2025
Venue: Ramolao Makhene Theatre, Newtown, Johannesburg
Time: 9:30 for 9:45
Live-streaming link:https://www.facebook.com/campiam.co.za
