Camp I Am is proud to announce the 2026 Spelling BeeHive™ Grand Finale, held in collaboration with the Gauteng Department of Education’s Johannesburg South District and Jozi My Jozi, on Saturday, 19 September 2026, at King Edward VII Preparatory School (KEPS) in Houghton, Johannesburg. The Finale will be livestreamed on Camp I Am’s Facebook page bringing families from across the country into the excitement.

The Spelling BeeHive™ reaches schools across the full span of the Johannesburg South District — from the Joburg CBD to Poortjie. Designed for Grades 7 to 9 learners from public and independent schools, the programme is running this year with Grade 7 and 8 learners, at the request of the Gauteng Department of Education. It’s a language arts initiative comprising four categories: spelling, creative writing, debate, and drama and storytelling.

Schools compete across these four categories: Financial Literacy Spelling Bee, which challenges learners to spell, define and apply words through a series of competitive rounds, including EMS financial literacy challenges; Eloquent Elocution (debate), testing public speaking, debate and argumentation skills; Show and Tell It! (Drama & Storytelling), bringing drama, storytelling and creativity to the stage; and Flex-in-Context (Creative Writing), where learners use words from the vocabulary list in original creative writing.

This year builds on years of impactful collaboration with Johannesburg South District schools, as the BeeHive continues to give learners the joy of literacy, sharpen their critical thinking, and build the confidence to perform in front of an audience.

Fifty schools from the District registered for the 2026 competition. A semi-final round will be held on 12 September will narrow the field to the top 20 schools advancing to the Finale on 19th September. 

At the heart of the programme is a curated list of 1,200 words drawn from the Grade 7–9 curriculum, reinforcing the school syllabus while broadening learners’ vocabulary and comprehension. In this way, the BeeHive bridges classroom learning with public performance: learners aren’t just memorising words, they’re understanding and applying them in ways that matter.

A highlight of this year’s programme has been the rollout of spelling lessons to schools following teacher training in May. The goal isn’t only to prepare learners to compete; it’s to equip them with real spelling strategies: rules, patterns, and mnemonics that build a genuine understanding of how words are constructed.

Camp I Am’s Executive Director, Kai Crooks-Chissano, describes the BeeHive as a literacy enrichment programme designed to engage different types of learners while also building financial literacy skills. “The BeeHive draws its name and spirit from the buzzing energy of a hive, where every learner contributes, collaborates, and grows. Unlike conventional competitions that reward a narrow set of skills, the BeeHive is structured to support different learning styles,” says Crooks-Chissano. “Spelling is often treated as a stand-alone skill, but it’s foundational to reading. To read with fluency and real comprehension, learners need to understand how words are built,  the patterns, roots, and rules behind them. That’s why our spelling lessons go beyond memorisation: we’re teaching learners to see the architecture of language, so reading becomes something they do with confidence, not just accuracy. At its heart, this initiative is about building confidence, nurturing communication, and showing young people that language is a gateway to future opportunity.”

Dr Ria de Villiers, Head of Education at Jozi My Jozi, adds that the Spelling BeeHive™ aligns closely with the organisation’s mission for Johannesburg’s youth, and that collaborating with Camp I Am and other partners will help amplify that work. Jozi My Jozi will bring 50 learners from schools in its network to attend the Finale. “We’re looking forward to this engagement,” she says, “especially because it gives young people from across Johannesburg the chance to see, up close, what’s possible when literacy, confidence, and community come together. For many of these learners, this will be their first time experiencing an event of this scale, and we want them to leave knowing that their own voice, and their own words, matter.”

The 2026 Spelling BeeHive™ Grand Finale brings the top spellers into the spotlight to compete for the title of best speller, while also celebrating the winners of the Creative Writing, Debate, and Drama & Storytelling competitions.

Event Details

Finale: Saturday, 19 September 2026
Venue: King Edward VII Preparatory School (KEPS)
             Corner of Louis Botha Avenue and Oak Street, Houghton Estate, Johannesburg
Time: 9:00 for 9:30
Live-streamed on: https://www.facebook.com/campiam.co.za

Follow the journey and join the conversation online using #SpellTheFuture

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About Camp I Am

Camp I Am is an education and literacy organisation dedicated to developing innovative learning programmes that support children’s personal and academic growth. With a focus on spelling, debate, drama, and storytelling, Camp I Am equips learners with the tools they need to succeed both inside and outside the classroom.

About Jozi My Jozi

Jozi My Jozi is a movement dedicated to revitalising Johannesburg by connecting people and organisations from all sectors of life to inspire sustainable solutions for our beloved city. We focus on projects that enhance safety and security, education, social impact, arts and culture, sport, tourism and community well-being.

For media enquiries:

Goabaona “Gabby” Mathibe

Communications Manager, Camp I Am

info@campiam.co.za

083 973 2285