Mandela Day boosts Ekurhuleni deaf school

The learners at the Ekurhuleni School for the Deaf (ESD) will enjoy a fresh environment after a clean-up campaign and renovation of the school.

Umuntu Naye Organization (UNO) and Eco Hope management (EHM), in partnership with Boksburg Correctional Services (BCS) and the CoE, painted the school and planted shade trees.

They received support from community members who pledged their 67 minutes to help.

The director of UNO, Thabiso Mngomezulu, said he chose the school because he was extending his partnership with schools by teaching children about crime prevention.

He said people were divided into groups to clean classrooms, wash transport buses, repair furniture, garden, plant trees and do electric and plumbing repairs.

Sipho Radebe from EHM said they taught and monitored people planting the trees.

BSC media liaison officer Sello Modise said they invited about 50 parolees from Katlehong.

He said it was vital for them to be part of such initiatives because it teaches them to take responsibility in their communities.

“Remember, they wronged the community, and through this project, they give back to the community and are welcomed,” said Modise.

Modise said Mandela Day was significant because the former late president sacrificed years of his life for us to have democracy.

“For us to join hands to help where possible says a lot because learners in this school live with disabilities and need support.”

Appreciating the stakeholder’s support, the deputy principal at ESD, Tietsi Letawana, said they were happy when the community realised the school was not just for them but for Ekurhuleni because it was the only school of death.

He thanked the stakeholders for their support.

Parolee Thabiso Vundla said they were at the school to do community service and wanted to show the community they were reformed.

He said what they did would benefit the children, and it was good for them to be outdoors with other people.