Alvern Cables, a cable manufacturing company donated 30 tables, chairs, and calculators to Hawk Academy in Primrose.
Also read: What is the right school choice for your child?
The visitors handed over the donations to Agnes Mkhonto, the school principal.
On behalf of the company, Stephen Liasides explained the opportunities they have as learners who wish to venture into engineering.
From left: Jason Pillay, Stephen Liasides, Willem Smit and Sulize Kluin handed over the furniture to school principal, Agnes Mkhonto (middle). Behind them is the delivery truck.
He said the company manufactures their products locally, which opens job opportunities and learning programmes for locals.
“We have different branches in the country. We hire local people within our geographic locations. And we have learnerships and apprenticeship programmes which are SETA accredited,” said Liasides.
“We are hoping to get learners to school and cover their fees.
Also read: Germiston resident turns trash into art
“Engineering is a beautiful space and we need more young people in it,” he said.
He said Hawk Academy is one of the schools that they are looking after and the company hopes to forge new relationships with the school.
Agnes Mkhonto, the school principal said they received this donation after Laisides visited the school and requested their school wish list.
“The donation came at the right time because for the first time we have a Grade 12 class. The new furniture will be used by the Grade 12s,” said Mkhonto.
“Furniture is expensive and as a school, we are always in need of extra furniture,” she said.
She said she is confident that the school’s first class of matriculants will achieve a 100% pass rate.
“As a school, we are hoping our learners will pass with good grades. Higher learning institutions will be waiting for them. We are also looking for bursaries and scholarships for them,” she said.
“The challenge we faced as school is the lack of resources. Most of our learners are from informal settlements. We hope that they will make it to varsity to obtain a qualification that will change their lives,” said Mkhonto.
“We push them to stay focused on their academy. During the previous schooling holiday, we did not close as a school. We had a school camp where we hosted the learners in morning and evening sessions and provided them with a meal,” said Mkhonto.
Amanda Macuiane, a grade 12 learner said after her matric she wants to study to become a geologist or an electrical engineer.
“The calculators will help us during our mathematics classes. And being in comfortable furniture will help boost our confidence as learners,” Macuiane.
