Every year Grade 11s from St Peter’s College build houses for distressed families. When the school started the programme 10 years ago their aim was to build a house per year. Last year the pupils partnered with Niall Mellon Township Trust to build 10 houses in the Zonkizizwe settlement in Katlehong.
The pupils raised money to pay for the houses by running fundraising events at the school as well as approaching businesses for sponsorship.
Headmaster of St Peter’s College, Graham Howarth, explained that the school constantly strives to inculcate a sense of nationhood in pupils through creating a culture and environment that respects this philosophy. “Pupils who attend the College should leave in matric with an understanding of the reality that is South Africa,” he said. “Furthermore pupils should want to be the change agents that this country needs to realise it’s potential.”
The special assembly served to bless the owners of the newly-built houses as well as to reflect on human rights, especially the basic right to shelter and security.
“With this programme we are saying to our fellow South Africans, we see you and we recognise you as fellow human beings,” Howarth said during his address to the pupils.
