And looking back at their history, it makes sense why. The school has come a long way and is finally en route to creating a world-class facility, a vision they have strived to achieve since the schools’ inception 25 years ago.
Principal Bruce Lindsay said, “It’s the same home in a different location.”
Michelle Kirk, advancement officer at the school, explained that the school had to find new premises after being forced to vacate their previous location in Cedar Road.
A tour of the school makes it hard to imagine that just months earlier, the beautifully built school consisted of a few scattered buildings used as cheap accommodation.
Kirk said the previous owner, an elderly widow, was more than willing to allow the school to make the premises their new home.
Lindsay said, “We saw potential in these run-down shacks, and were fortunate that the previous owners allowed us to uplift as we pleased.”
So where to from here? Lindsay explained that plans were in place for a pool, gym, playground and a hall. He added that the school also planned on partnering with Special Olympics, which would give pupils the platform to compete on a national and international level.
“We have approached Special Olympics to help with the running of the sporting facilities and they are very eager,” said Kirk.
“Their expertise will ensure that both the learners from Unity, and those training to be top athletes at the games themselves will have somewhere to go that caters to their needs.”
The school also plans to explore e-learning. “We need to keep our kids abreast of all new technologies and expose them to the same facilities as normal kids,” Lindsay added.
Patrick Maddox, chairperson of the college’s board said, “Twenty five years ago there were parents who looked at their kids and didn’t want them to be sidelined. Their dream was to have children that can succeed and grow to their full potential, Unity is just that.”
Details: www.unity-college.org.za
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