Special needs children reward workers for hard work
Pipe construction leads to a "friendship across the fence"
Photo: David Padbury
The children at T’Shinga Training College in Assagay decided to present the WKSA Construction workers with a cake to thank them for their hard work on the
Western Aqueduct project.
The school, which caters for intellectually-challenged pupils between the ages of 10 and 21 years, is on a small holding which borders part of the construction site that runs from Alverstone Nek and continues to Ashley Drive in Hillcrest.
The construction which began in September last year has been a source of fascination and learning. Belinda Padbury, who has been teaching at the school since its inception in 2005, said the youngsters were “absolutely fascinated” by the excavation of land and laying of pipelines.
She said it was lovely seeing this “friendship across the fence” develop, with the children spending break times watching the project unfold.
“The children watch them work and have got to know the people working on site. One child, Robin Dekker (17), goes and watches them working every day.”
Padbury said she had discussed the construction work with the children, explaining the long, tiring hours it took laying the pipes that would be providing much needed water to the area.
“Its tough work so the children thought it would be nice to give the workers a cake.”
She said it was the children’s way of saying “thank you” for the good work they’re doing.
Jacques Snyman, Contracts Manager with WKSA Construction for the Western Aqueduct Phase 2, said that working in the business, he too had witnessed first-hand how tough construction work can be.
“T’shinga Training College and the children they teach have watched our construction team work right on their back fence. When they see the staff with their fluorescent jackets they start clapping and jumping with excitement. It has truly given them a lot to watch and enjoy as far as our monster machines go.”
He said the construction team – who are often just invisible workers to the public – is helpful and caring.
“When the children decided to give them a cake for all their hard work, it was truly a humbling moment to experience.”
The completion date for this portion of the Western Aqueduct Phase 2 is on track for April 2015.
