GARDENIA Primary School in Austerville was the recipient of a state-of-the-art solar powered computer laboratory on Friday, 5 June.
Two businesses, giveITback and Net1 EasyPay, which is part of the Prism group officially opened a computer laboratory at the school to the value of R571,000. The laboratory has 20 computers.
Business assurance manager for Net1 EasyPay, based in Rosebank Johannesburg, Janie Marx-Darby says the company believes education is the only way to eradicate poverty, uplift society and ultimately lead to a better South Africa. “As a country we consistently perform poorly in mathematics and science by world standards. Therefore it is absolutely imperative that the private sector helps enable young minds to reach their full potential,” she said.
This is the eighth computer lab GiveITback has erected in KZN. GiveITback director Jonathan Michael says he didn’t realise the impact his company would have on 30,000 pupils across the country. “As a company we want to make a difference. This computer lab is measured in more than rands,” he said.
Gardenia Primary School principal John Olivier says the lab donation will give pupils the opportunity to prepare pupils for the real world. “This donation takes our IT to the next level. When pupils leave for high school, they will be able to choose subjects in technical fields,” he said.
Grade seven pupil Keeron Foster says the computer lab will open children up to new experiences. “We will have information at the touch of a button. The fact that it’s solar powered blows my mind,” said Foster.
