A helping hand for Alex matrics from Sandton City

With the end-of-year school exams starting today, Sandton City is lending a helping hand for the Alex matriculants that are being severely impacted by the current rolling Eskom power blackouts.

It’s crunch time for students who are once again contending with load-shedding that is significantly impacting study time – and in particular, students studying at home and into the evenings and it is for this reason that Sandton City is offering a safe study space for these learners,” said Sandton City general manager Preston Gaddy.

In response to the need for a safe space for students battling with the electricity needed for studying, Liberty Two Degrees (L2D) and Sandton City have come together and responded with an interim solution – a 500m2 designated space in Sandton City’s Atrium on the 2nd Floor West.

This space will be made available to students who need a quiet and safe space to study. The area will have electricity, Wi-Fi, and security, during any load-shedding schedule, and high school students in Alex are invited to use this space to study for their end-of-year exams.

“The facility has been operational as of October 26, and it is fully equipped with desks and chairs to allow up to 60 learners at a time to come through and use the facilities, knowing they don’t have to worry about load shedding affecting their studies,” Gaddy said.

The learning area will be made available for free to all high school students from Alexandra from Monday to Friday afternoons from 16h30 – 21h00 for the duration of the end-of-year public school exam timetable.

“As there is only a place for 60 learners, at this stage, seating will work on a ‘first come, first serve bases, and we ask that any high school student coming through bring through proof of identification, sign an indemnity form to access the area, as well as bring through a parental consent form if they are underage,” Gaddy added.

Sandton City will also be working closely with the relevant school principals in Alexandra to ensure all indemnity forms are sent directly to the school and enable students to get parental approval before they come through to the study centre.

“I am so proud that L2D and Sandton City can respond and support these learners in a small way. We view our malls as a safe space for people and the Alexandra community has played an integral part in the success of Sandton City, we want to support this community wherever we can during school exam time.

“We would also love to extend what we can offer the high school students coming through to utilise the Sandton City study area during this time. If there are any businesses in the Sandton/Alexandra area that would like to assist, with aspects such as food and drinks or even transport for the children in need, please contact us directly so we can help co-ordinate further efforts to support these students,” Gaddy added.

Details: Sandton City study centre Nathi Zungu nathi.zungu@epsgroup.co.za; Facebook; @sandtoncity and Instagram; @sandtoncitymall

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