Siemens helps children wheel into the future
Siemens changed the lives of Ithembelihle Lsen School learners with the generous donation of 42 wheelchairs and 15 computers.
Ithembelihle Lsen School in Primrose was a hive of activity last Tuesday, when a team from Siemens visited the school.
The visit aimed to celebrate the generous donation of 30 manual wheelchairs, 12 electronic wheelchairs and 15 computers that the company made to the school recently.
After sharing some of the school’s highlights with the visitors, principal Leonor Ngozi became emotional when she reflected on just how much the donation meant to the school and, more importantly, the learners.
“I said I wouldn’t cry but this donation is just so amazing,” she said.
The school seldom gets its hopes up when approached by companies as often many cannot donate more than one wheelchair at a time, although the school is grateful for all the help it can get, they do struggle to choose one worthy child in such situations.
So, when Siemens asked them for the number of wheelchairs the school wanted the learners were over the moon.
Reitumetse Mametja, a Grade Seven learner, shared how having an electronic wheelchair has changed her life.
“I am very honoured to have been given the chance to share my gratitude with our visitors from Siemens,” she said.
“For me personally, having this wheelchair has given me the ability to move around the school as I please.
“When I asked my peers how they felt about the new wheelchairs many agreed that having them is like having our own legs and we are so grateful.”
Rita Nkuhlu, executive director of Siemens Africa, took to the floor to address the learners, sharing that when the company made the decision to make the donation the company’s main aim was to enhance the children’s lives.
“Who of you have seen and worked on the new computers?” Nkuhlu asked good-naturedly.
“Are they alright?
“Do you think you can work on them?”
To which she received a resounding “yes”.
“Then I am glad because then we have done what we meant to do,” she said.
Before unveiling a plaque and making the donation, Henry van der Merwe, Siemens’ power generation services CEO, spoke to the children.
“We hope that through projects like this we show the community how much we care and how serious we are about making a difference,” he said.
The event was a great success and was filled with lots of fun and smiles.
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