Samancor’s Eastern Chrome Mines (ECM) celebrated International Day of Education by investing in the future of Grade One learners at various primary schools in its region.
The back-to-school campaign was held on January 23 and 24, during which ECM visited Riba, Magakantshe, Papong and Maelebe primary schools. All the Grade One learners at these schools received brand-new schoolbags sponsored by ECM. The bags contained a colouring book, a pencil case, colouring pencils, pens, a ruler, eraser and lots of other stationery. This is an essential kick-start to any Grade One’s first year of ‘big school’.
According to Gizela Kapp, ECM’s HR practitioner and communications officer, the first school this mining group visited was Riba Primary in Madiseng. “We visited this school on January 23 where we waited for the Grade Ones to join us for the handover.”
She said the excitement and thankfulness of the children were tangible. “The learners sang us a couple of songs, and Ronald Llale of the Transformation Department of Samancor gave them a beautiful speech, motivating them for the 2024 school year and for the rest of their school careers. Solly Bila of the United Association of South Africa’s trade union also gave a short speech, wishing them good luck.”
Kapp said 178 backpacks were handed over by ECM to Riba Primary School’s Grade One learners.
But the celebrations did not end there as ECM made their way to three other primary schools in the region. At Magakantshe Primary School in Makgemeng, Debora Makola of ECM’s HR department conveyed a special message to the learners about their future and how she also attended Magakantshe. At this school, 59 backpacks were handed over.
On the following day, January 24, Elvis Mhaule and Mashaledi Ratshoshi of the National Union of Mine Workers and Bila participated in making this day special for the Grade Ones at Papong Primary in Ga-Malekana.
Kapp explained that the principal and teachers of this school were very welcoming and couldn’t wait for the kids to receive their backpacks. ECM spent some time at the school with the teachers and kids before Mhaule, Bila and Makola wished them good luck with their first year of school and the start of their school journey. At this school, ECM handed over 43 backpacks.
Maelebe Primary School in Tukakgomo was the last stop. The learners welcomed ECM with open arms and were ecstatic about the new bags and goodies that came with them. Each of the 110 Grade One learners received their backpacks before the ECM team made their way back, bidding the learners all the best in their school endeavours.
During these two days, ECM supplied 390 Grade Ones with bags and stationery.
