The National Basketball Association (NBA Africa), in conjunction with City Year’s ‘whole school whole child programme’, recently gave the WD Oliphant Primary School a new lick of paint.
The two teams got together for a colourful occasion in the spirit of Mandela Day. They renovated the school’s Grade R classrooms by painting the them inside and out, and then painting the canvass on display outside the classroom.
“Our ‘whole school whole child programme’ is about transforming the learning environment in such a way that the children look forward to coming to school. We’ve been in partnership with this school for three years, and felt that this would be the best place to introduce this project,” said Errol Radebe, the youth development and support manager at City Year.
The school was a sight to behold on the day, as members of City Year, clad in red interacted with children, painted their faces and made their classrooms pretty. The children playing outside were amazed at the tall men and women from the NBA who were painting their classrooms, and stared at them in awe.
“I met Nelson Mandela in 2003. He was a great friend of the NBA, and believed that sport could transform South Africa. This is why the NBA is involved in this project,” said Amadou Gallo Fall, the vice president and managing director for NBA Africa.
The day began with some music, a name game to introduce the two teams to each other, a vote of thanks from principal Nkele Moila, a few wise words from the NBA Africa spokesperson, and then the real work began. The team of 18 – 10 from City Year and eight from NBA Africa began painting, with Amadou joking that he didn’t need to use a ladder, because of his height.
“I feel so blessed and important because the team chose us. They will always be welcome at the school. I would like to appeal to City Year to continue their great work and extend a hand to other schools that are just in need as we are,” Moila told the News.
City Year is a youth development programme that recruits and trains unemployed matriculants by enrolling them in a programme where they are taught various life and business skills through volunteering. To find out more about this organisation, visit their website www.cityyear.org.za and follow them on Twitter at @CityYearSOA.
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