St David's Marist Inanda

St David’s Marist Inanda is proud to host the Independent Schools’ Rugby Festival 2026 brought to you by Absa South Africa

This Is Us: College: Head of Subject: Computer-Based Subjects, Ms Yasmin Motani

Yasmin is a passionate educator and lifelong learner whose work is shaped by her own high school motto: “A Commitment to Excellence.” For her, excellence is not about perfection, but about curiosity, discipline and the ongoing desire to grow.

Serving as College Head of Subject: Computer-Based Subjects across both campuses, Yasmin aims to foster a love of computing by helping students understand how computational and systems thinking can be used to solve problems and create purposeful digital solutions. Through programming, robotics and artificial intelligence, she works to make computing education accessible, structured and relevant.

She holds degrees in Commerce, Information Systems and Psychology, as well as qualifications in Education and Leadership. She has a Master’s in Education in ICT and is pursuing a PhD focused on developing a responsive Integrated Computing curriculum for Grades 8 and 9.

In the classroom, Yasmin values high expectations, discipline and strong relationships with students, approaching teaching with a sense of humour. She enjoys seeing students grow in confidence as they tackle complex concepts and believes that students learn best when they are challenged, supported and held to a high standard.

Beyond the classroom, Yasmin contributes to curriculum development, assessment design, teacher support and digital learning initiatives. As an IEB CAT Cluster Leader, she is passionate about developing teachers in computer-based subjects and encouraging thoughtful technology use. Her teaching philosophy is grounded in the belief that excellent education depends on human relationships and the Marist values of presence, family spirit and love of work.

Away from work, Yasmin is grounded by her large and close family, who remain the most important part of her world. As an introvert and self-confessed nerd at heart, she values quieter moments to recharge, whether doing Pilates to centre herself or enjoying systems development and gaming.

“Heroes represent the best of ourselves… A hero is someone who is willing to help others in his or her best capacity.” - Ricky Martin

While the theme of Youth Day is not around heroism, it is befitting of the energy surrounding today’s outting to Little Eden. 21 St David’s boys together with other students from Marist Brother’s Linmeyer, De La Salle Holy Cross and Kingsmead spent the morning interacting with residents of Little Eden Society. From face painting, blowing bubbles, playing soccer, going on walks, building towers out of blocks, dancing to having simple conversations, our students demonstrated the true essence of presence, humility and generosity of time.

Little Eden Society is a registered non-profit home based in Edenvale and Bapsfontein, caring for over 300 children and adults with profound intellectual disabilities. The home was founded on the belief that every person has dignity and the right to love, care and belonging. Residents live in “family-style” homes with 24/7 nursing care, therapy and activities. They rely heavily on donations and fundraising since government subsidies don’t cover the full cost of care. For more information and to get involved please visit https://littleeden.org.za/

Out of respect to the residents of Little Eden Society no photographs were captured during the activities, instead photos of the walking tours of the estate along with some of the petting zoo animals are shown.

Youth is often defined as the period between childhood and adulthood. It is also something more profound: a time marked by courage, zest and possibility. The belief that tomorrow can be better than today.

This Youth Day, we honour the young South Africans who dared to raise their voices in pursuit of a brighter, safer and more prosperous future. Their legacy reminds us that youth is not simply an age, it is a force capable of shaping nations.

At St David’s, we recognise that every boy’s journey is unique. We are committed to creating a community where every young man feels seen, heard, included and valued. A place where belonging is cultivated, character is nurtured and each boy is empowered to discover his potential with confidence.

When young people are given the safety to be themselves, the support to grow, and the opportunity to lead, they do more than prepare for the future, they help define it.

Today and everyday, we celebrate the energy, resilience and promise of youth. We celebrate the boys entrusted to our care and the remarkable future they are already building.

13.06.2026

Nothing quite like a Winters’ Day at Inanda. 💙

NEW Old School Jerseys just dropped…