Local school celebrates Mandela Day
The library, computer laboratory, combi court and vegetable garden were also renovated.
Adopt-a-school Foundation and AngloGold Ashanti have once again partnered for their 12th annual Back to School for Mandela Day Campaign.
Whilst celebrating the life of the late Nelson Mandela which was all about spreading humanity, the annual initiative showed active citizenship and volunteerism.
This year’s visit was at Mvelendzandivho Primary School in Chiawelo on July 18 where there was a new partnership announcement at the school.
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The school was also graced by Miss South Africa 2023, Natasha Joubert, media personalities K Naomi, Nicolette Mashile and more.
Maude Modise, the Managing Trustee of the Shoprite Foundation said, “The reason why we decided to come to Soweto today is because Soweto is so much part of our community in terms of where we operate as an entity, we’ve got a lot of Shoprites around the area.
“But also it’s part of our purpose in terms of uplifting lives every day in the work that we do.
“Whether it’s providing affordable goods and services or providing economic opportunities, we uplift lives in some sort of way.”
She added that they also wanted to give learners the digital experience as the world is going into the digital AI space.
The foundation which is a partner entity of the Cyril Ramaphosa Foundation that celebrates its 20th anniversary this year, implements Whole School Development (WSD). It focuses on school leadership, curriculum infrastructure, and learner well-being.
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CEO of Adopt-a-School Foundation, Steven Lebere said, “We are trying to change the lives of our learners mostly in disadvantaged schools and ensure that the schools are conducive for teaching and learning.”
Since 2012, the Back to School for Mandela Day initiative has mobilised corporate partners to go back to school and spend their 67 minutes supporting volunteer activities in schools.
“The biggest highlight is how we have managed to mobilise corporate and come together for one reason which is to make a difference.
“We’ve seen companies like AngloGold Ashanti, Shoprite, and many other organisations that have come and partnered with us in this initiative,” added Lebere.
On the day, activities that were done at the school icluded eye-sight testing, donation of spectacles, packing of snack packs for the learners, fun curriculum games, financial literacy for the learners, health and sexuality education talk as well as renovations of the Grade R play area.
The library, computer laboratory, combi court and vegetable garden were also renovated.
During the event, it was also mentioned that President Cyril Ramaphosa attended the same primary school growing up.
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Principal of Mvelendzandivho Primary School, Takalani Semenya expressed gratitude for the visit and all the help the school received.
“Well, it is overwhelming in the sense that obviously this is a great day because we are remembering our great father Madiba. If you look at the things that all of these people are doing for us here at school it’s really going to change the perspective of everyone, the community, and our learners,” said Principal Semenya.
