Eskom contributes towards the wellness of children in Mapela
Eskom has donated educational toys to the value of R60 000 to two preschools in the community
POLOKWANE – WitRivier Educare and Stirum Preschool are registered non-profit organisations (NPOs) established in 2005 and 1986 respectively at Mapela (Rauwele and Millenium villages) in the Waterberg District Municipality in Limpopo.
The preschools aim to take care of farmworkers’ children and children from local communities by providing a suitable environment for early childhood development activities that stimulate language development, learning and creativity.
Corporate Affairs at Eskom Limpopo Operating Unit, Emelda Ramahlare, said the preschools used to operate in shacks but now Eskom has rebuilt them and donated educational toys to the value of R60 000 to each preschool to help them with development in the community.
“The purpose of this donation is to give back to the local community in which Eskom operates and to support the vision of universal access to education for all. Eskom has built new 400 kV and 132 kV substations (Borutho project) next to where the preschools are located,” Emelda added. At the handover celebration, Hilton Rampedi, the Customer Relations Manager, said this was not so much a donation but an investment.
He encouraged the community to support the Borutho project so Eskom could continue to electrify new households. He also appealed to the community to ensure these two buildings and educational toys were well taken care of.
Marcus Lengwate, Programme Manager of Borutho, said the economic growth of the country depends on Eskom’s ability to supply a reliable source of energy. “Eskom can achieve this with the support and collaboration of the communities it serves and in which projects are executed. The Mapela community is privileged because since Eskom began with the construction of the Borutho project on 9 January 2013, it had hired a local bus service (3 x 65 seaters) to transport people in the community to their respective workplaces; it had subcontracted a local company to construct cattle grid fencing; and community cooks to open a market to sell their food to local employees. Eskom has further donated food parcels and school uniforms to Millennium Primary School,” he said.
Chief Masebe Langa appreciated Eskom’s efforts toward bettering the community and said they will support the progress of the Borutho project.
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