Eco-classroom brings smiles on Mandela Day
“Education is the most powerful weapon which you can use to change the world.”
On Tuesday, for Mandela Day, the World Jewish Congress (WJC) and the South African Jewish Board of Deputies (SAJBD) launched the Harvest Education Eco Hub at the Harvest Centre of Education and Equality in Brakpan.
The centre is also home to Blessings Eco Preparatory School, established by Yakima Dengler Waner and Jessie Nkosi, which is situated on the grounds of the Brakpan Synagogue.
The Harvest Project was born alongside the school, which caters mainly for the children of the Plastic City informal settlement.
The settlement is inhabited mostly by foreign nationals whose children are unable to attend school due to lack of documentation.
Blessings Eco Preparatory School was originally named Teletubbies Day Care and was situated in Plastic City. It was started by sisters Jessie and Hlengiwe Nkosi in 2015.
The Brakpan Synagogue is now a heritage site and a museum, and the centre supports and feeds 90 children from toddlers up to Grade Three.
In honour of Mandela Day, the newly built eco-classroom was officially opened and will be used as a multi-purpose space for extra-mural activities, community gatherings and learning.
Before the official opening, guests were taken on a tour of the school grounds – where children are taught how to harvest their own vegetables – the classrooms, the small kitchen where meals were prepared each week for hundreds of people during the height of the Covid-19 pandemic, and the synagogue.
Visitors were also treated to an exhibition of artwork by some of the school’s children, as well as a ‘Who am I’ presentation.
This was done by the smaller children who introduced themselves and shared their future career goals.
Wendy Kahn, director of the SAJBD, told the audience she was humbled to meet everyone involved in the project and described them as miracle workers who create hope.
She explained that at the start of the Covid pandemic the board had set up a relief fund to provide food.
“We had funds but couldn’t go out ourselves and had to find people working on the ground. We were incredibly blessed to meet Yakima,” she said.
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“We are so privileged to be part of this. The legacy of this shul (synagogue) continues. The Waner family had made sure this is continuing.”
Her sentiments were echoed by Danny Mofsowitz from the WJC who commended the work taking place at the centre.
Addressing the guests, Yakima referenced the Nelson Mandela quote, “Education is the most powerful weapon which you can use to change the world.”
“These children have been told they are rubbish and that they don’t belong here. To show recognition to a child can change lives,” she said.
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“Not only do they get an education here, they are taught respect, love, equality, life skills and teamwork. That knowledge stays with them forever.
“This means they have a future here.”
Guests were then ushered to the new eco-classroom, where a ribbon-cutting ceremony marked its official opening.
The bulk of the classroom has been built from recyclable materials and it also boasts other eco-friendly features.
Additional activities planned for the day included a fruit tree-planting ceremony and there was an auction of Mandela-inspired pottery made by the children.
