One of the centres is housed at Noninzi Luzipho Primary School and hosted the official opening which saw the attendance of the Department of Education’s Superintendent General Themba Kojana and Nelson Mandela District Director Ernest Gorgonzola. Volkswagen South Africa invested R2 million into the construction of the three centres situated at James Ntungwana Primary School, Vuba Primary School and Noninzi Luzipho Primary School and providing them with books for its daily functions in addition to the books donated by Old Mutual valued at R180 000. The three new centres along with the existing centres at Ntlemeza Primary and Mngcunube Primary School ensures functional literacy for students under the age of 10 years.
“It is a known fact that education is one of the main challenges facing our country. A research study conducted by Dr Nic Spaull found that more than 60% of South African children cannot read for meaning by the end of Grade 3. As a caring and responsible corporate citizen that always puts its people first, VWSA decided to establish a programme that will ensure that all learners in Uitenhage are functionally literate by the time they reach Grade 3. Nearly 3 300 learners will benefit from the various interventions of the Legacy Literacy programme. Today’s opening of these three Legacy Literacy Centres exemplifies Volkswagen’s commitment to establishing corporate social responsibility programmes that have impact and meaning on the lives of our people,” Thomas Schaefer, Volkswagen Group South Africa Chairman and Managing Director.
As part of its corporate social responsibility initiatives, Volkswagen South Africa received praise from the Department of Education’s Superintendent General Themba Kojana, for the centres and their efforts towards education and youth development.
“Reading is a culture and you’ve planted a seed that we as the Department must nourish. We are looking into the model of these centres and will work closely with you going forward. We are here to nurture our partnership. To us, this is a fundamental project, because you are investing in the human mind and the future of our children,” Themba Kojana, Superintendent General, Department of Education.
