From a young girl with a dream to a world champion, Bernice “The Badger” Ferreira returned to her former school, Laerskool Piet van Vuuren in Brixton, Johannesburg, to inspire the next generation.
In partnership with The Empower HER Experience with Ms CurvyBody SA and Tulie Tanda, Boxing South Africa (BSA) joined Ferreira for an inspiring engagement with learners focused on self-belief, resilience, empowerment and the importance of recognising their own potential.
Ferreira was joined by prominent women from the boxing fraternity, including BSA Women in Boxing Committee Chairperson Rina Subzotskdy, WBO Africa Junior Flyweight Champion Asanda Simelane and boxer Lee Ann Jansen.
For Ferreira, the visit was deeply personal. Returning to the school where her journey began, she shared her story with learners and reminded them that their present circumstances do not determine their future.
Her message was simple and powerful: dream boldly, work hard and believe in yourself.
The learners welcomed their former schoolmate with excitement and pride, embracing the opportunity to meet a world champion who once walked the same school corridors.
The visit also highlighted the importance of using sport as a vehicle for empowerment, social development and positive community engagement. For BSA, it reinforced the role that female athletes can play beyond the ring by becoming role models and opening pathways for those coming behind them.
Ferreira’s return to her roots left the learners with more than an inspirational message — it gave them a glimpse of what is possible.
Sometimes, the journey to becoming a champion begins in a classroom, with nothing more than a dream and the courage to believe it can come true.
