SEBOKENG.- The donation stemmed from office chairs purchased by the International Finance Corporation (IFC). In May 2020, Adopt-a-School Foundation announced an exciting partnership with ChairClub, a proudly South African and local chair manufacturer, to collaborate on the ‘Buy One, Give One Campaign’. The campaign aims to ensure that every chair sold by ChairClub from its office chair range, a school chair would be donated to disadvantaged schools in rural and urban communities across the country.
The donation marks the sixth school to receive school chairs under the campaign, bringing the total number of donated chairs to 837. Residensia Secondary School Deputy Principal, Thibi Motsiri said that the school is thankful to Adopt-a-School Foundation, ChairClub and IFC for the chairs donation. She added that the gesture came at the right time as the school is experiencing shortages of chairs and classrooms due to high enrolment numbers, with current enrolment standing at 1 400 learners at the school. In some classrooms, learners sit at desks while others stand during lessons. The school has been recently adopted by African Bank, and will undergo the Adopt-a-School Foundation’s Whole School Development programme.
“The importance of school furniture is undeniably one of the factors that contribute to conducive learning in the classroom.” With many schools dealing with the effects of Covid-19, the donation provides relief to schools that are experiencing severe shortages of school furniture and ensures that schooling continues efficiently,” said Zelda Jacobs, Communications Manager at Adopt-a-School Foundation.
“It is with the help of companies like IFC that we are able to make donations to learners and schools through our partnership with Adopt-a-School. “The Buy One Give One Campaign has enabled us to give something back, no matter how small, ensuring that children can learn and become better for themselves, their families and South Africa. “We invest in the youth of today as they are our leaders of tomorrow,” said Jade Kietzmann, Sales Administrator at ChairClub.
“IFC is pleased to contribute to the Buy One, Give One campaign to support a safer and more conducive learning environment that promotes students’ personal growth and self-esteem, increases retention for both boys and girls in school, and enhances human capital in Vanderbijlpark,” said Adamou Labara, IFC’s Country Manager for South Africa adding that for them this is to be able to make sure that they give something back, no matter how small, to ensure that all the children can grow and learn, and can become better for themselves, their families and for South Africa.
