Sparrow School opens its new business and IT Training Centre.
With the support of Sparrow Schools Foundation United Kingdom, Cyberpro Consulting and various sponsors and donors, Sparrow School in Sophiatown were able to officially launch their brand-new section of the school. On 20 January, with all role-players involved present, Sparrow Schools opened the state-of-the-art George Marsh Training Centre. The centre was built with the aim of creating an educational space for business and information technology- (IT) related programmes and skills training.
General manager of Sparrow School Jackie Gallagher shared her joy over the project that has finally come to an end. She expressed, “The many individuals, businesses, friends, employees have stood together to ensure that we have won another victory in our efforts to create a future for young South Africans.”
She went on to say that this centre for business skills training will accommodate 240 unemployed youths with few hopes and prospects.
For those unaware, Sparrow’s FET College is a reputable, accredited training college that equips learners with the practical skills to enter the workplace before completing their education. This is achieved through the college’s targeted training programmes in the fields of construction, hospitality, sports development, IT, engineering and more.
The centre was named after George Marsh, a long-time partner and supporter of Sparrow Schools. Gallagher said, “This new centre is named after George Marsh in honour of his contributions to the Sparrow Educational Trust.”
Apart from the cricket, he was looking forward to, Marsh travelled to South Africa to be present at the opening of the building, which he recently found out was named after him. Marsh is also the founder of the Sparrow Foundation United Kingdom which is responsible for raising over R20 million in funds for Sparrow School. This money has been used to build the combined school of Sparrow, as provisions for staff benefits such as provident funds and many other projects.
Gallagher said its relationships such as the one Sparrow School has with Marsh and all its partners are the reason that they have been able to achieve so much. “All of you here today have helped to build Sparrow in many different ways but you are all focused on shaping the lives of young South Africans whose education has been neglected by successive bureaucracy.”
Though their partners Sparrow will be able to provide Internet connectivity, computers, leadership and security for the new building.
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