George Marsh reflects on the growth of Sparrow School.
The collaboration between George Marsh and Sparrow School goes further than the George Marsh Training Centre that the school opened on 23 January. For years, Marsh has pledged his support to the school and its mission to upskill South African youths who have been left on the side-line due to finances, opportunities and learning challenges.
As they opened the George Marsh Training Centre, Marsh expressed that it should represent progress for South Africans. “For those at Sparrow it represents hope, training and a way forward to becoming a working member of the South African society.”
The relationship between Sparrow School and Marsh began in the ’90s when Marsh was preparing for a cricket tour to South Africa with his form preparatory school from London. They managed to raise more money than they needed and Marsh decided to donate that money to the Gauteng province to further develop black cricketers. The recipients would’ve needed formal training to excel off the pitch and Sparrow was selected to receive the funds which were in excess of 3 000 pounds.
Marsh said, “Jackie Gallagher (general manager of Sparrow School) phoned me up to thank me for giving her 3 000 pounds which I thought I hadn’t but I actually had.” They proceeded to have a lengthy conversation which birthed this magnificent relationship.
The centre will accommodate 240 unemployed youths and give them the necessary skills business skills that they can use to either start their own business or be employed by others. Marsh stated that it is institutions such as Sparrow that have made it their mission to give young people the opportunity to better themselves that will directly impact the high levels of youth unemployment faced in the country.
Marsh is pleased to see how far Sparrow has come and suggested that those he shows the school to can also see how special a place it is. “Every time, we the English, come here all the parents have felt that Sparrow is a very special place. It is clear that the staff are here to help the disadvantaged and those with learning difficulties to become citizens of their society, it’s magical.”
He thanked everyone who has been involved in Sparrow from the start with the primary all the way to the centre they opened. He hopes that they continue to work together to make differences in the lives of many South Africans.
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