Natal Nomads build a brighter future
Learners at an Embo school no longer need to worry for their safety after two of their classrooms were recently refurbished.
THE Natal Nomads heard a rural school’s plea for help and quickly decided to raise enough funds to refurbish two of its classrooms.
“During a visit to a school in Embo we saw a serious learning crisis that needed to be addressed,” said Andras Namenyi of Namenyi Project Hope.
The classrooms at Inhlangano Senior Primary School were dilapidated and posed a threat to the education and lives of the learners.
The school has three blocks of classrooms, one of which had been condemned due to the level of deterioration.
“There was a missing roof, falling ceilings and broken windows in two classrooms. Parts of the ceiling and roof had collapsed due to termite infestation, subjecting the learners to danger. This was where the children used to take lessons and it made the acquisition of knowledge a risky adventure for the young learners,” said Andras.
The school’s principal, Sibusiso Dumakude, demonstrated a keen understanding of how living conditions affected learning. He said quality education in rural areas could only be achieved when there was significant social and economic development in those areas.
“For many years our school highlighted our needs to the Department of Education about the poor condition of our facilities and requested for necessary repairs to be made. We have not received a response from the department.
“Our decaying school buildings were insufficient, forcing the teachers to cram learners into available classrooms, negatively affecting not only the enrollment of new learners, but also the education of the current and overcrowded learners in a classroom,” he said.
Natal Nomads usually take a hands-on approach with projects undertaken, not only to raise funds, but also ensure that the projects are completed.
At Inhlangano Senior Primary School, one classroom was completely refurbished and a new section of roof was added to another classroom.
“We are so thankful to Andras Namenyi of Namenyi Project Hope for seeking support on our behalf. To Gavin Brown, the vice captain of Natal Nomads, for raising R115 000 to renovate two of our classrooms and to Arnold Neveling of CandL Construction and a Natal Nomad, for carrying out such a remarkable work on our buildings.
“When the government failed to listen to our plea in ensuring that quality education was made available to our learners, you answered,” he added.
