Parktown Public School gets new library
AUDITING firm, KPMG donated a library to Parktown Public School which services a hugely disadvantaged community as it has over 800 pupils.
The school was abuzz with excitement when KPMG, in conjunction with the Nelson Mandela Foundation, launched a library for the school through their KPMG Family For Literacy (KFFL) initiative. Through contributions made by many of their staff members, their families and pupils from local schools on Mandela Day, the firm was able to transform an empty room at the school, into a fully-fledged library.
The firm and its staff bought and donated over 8 000 new and used foundation phase books to start the library, and replaced dilapidated and broken shelves with new book cases and tables, and donated desktop computers to provide pupils with every facility to develop and grow.
The firm has an internal foundation called the KMPG Foundation which helps drive the their mission to be a socially-responsible and civic-minded organisation.
The chairman of the foundation in South Africa, Yunus Suleman, officially opened the library, reiterating the firm’s commitment to promoting education.
“KPMG is committed to making a difference in the communities in which we operate, and KFFL is a key initiative for our foundation because education is a priority in our citizenship efforts,” he said.
Representing the Nelson Mandela Foundation, Luvuyo Mandela, great-grandson of late Nelson Mandela, thanked the firm for its vision and support of the school. He encouraged the children to cultivate a love of learning, and commended the teachers for inspiring pupils.
Octavia Sithole, representing the Department of Basic Education, spoke passionately to the students about the value that the library will bring to their lives.
“Whatever challenges you face, whether you live in a back room or a shack, don’t let your circumstances determine who you are and what you can achieve,” encouraged Sithole.
In addition to launching the library, the KPMG Family For Literacy initiative will donate more books to Salvazione Christian School in Mayfair West and Piet van Vuuren Primary School in Brixton.
