Rotary Club raises R100 000 for Link Literacy Project
PARKVIEW – A donation cheque of R100 000 has put a smile on the faces of the Link Literacy Project's members when the Rotary Club committed themselves to raising funds to further their education projects.
With some of the children hailing from disadvantaged backgrounds, the Link Literacy Project aims to help learners from the ages of seven to eight year old improve their literacy and numeracy.
The Rotary Club of Johannesburg blessed the Link Literacy Project with a cheque of R100 000 on Wednesday at the Parkview Golf Club.
Project chairman Tim Bashell could not hide his excitement during the handover.
“We can’t thank New Dawn enough for helping us to create sustainable growth,” said Bashell, who accepted the cheque with Link co-ordinator, Megan Maynard. “Megan and I are overwhelmed by this donation.”
The money will assist to set up three new Link centres at schools in Primrose, Germiston, Maboneng and Fordsburg.
The Link Literacy Project was established in 2010 and is a non-profit organisation that teaches literacy and numeracy skills to children whose first language is not English and whose parents are often illiterate and unable to help them with their homework.
The Gauteng Department of Education has given the organisation a nod of approval.
The children who take part are identified by their teachers and principals through testing and regular consultation about their progress is always followed up.
The Rotary Club of Johannesburg New Dawn raised the money for the donation from a golf day and raffle held last year, and a bridge drive and raffle in March.
Another process of working towards raising more funds for the project through a Rotary International Global Grant will be in conjunction with the Canada-based Rotary Club of Parkdale High Park Humber.
“We have become the link to literacy. It has taken years of tenacity,” said Rotary District 9400 Governor Jankees Sligcher, who is a member of New Dawn.
The 500 volunteers from the project provide learners with one-on-one sessions and work from their 11 specially equipped Link centres, which are situated inside the schools.
“Rotary consists of people around the world doing their best to try and make it a better place by making a difference within their own communities,” said New Dawn president Carol Stier.
Do you also go an extra mile to help your community? Tweet us on @RK_Gazette
Related articles:
