ON the chilly winter night of July 28, 41 Shangri-La pupils, 11 teachers and their two school principals spent the night sleeping out in the cold.
The school braved the night as part of their School SleepOut and through the initiative, the school donated more than 5 000 items of stationery to needy schools.
Initially, the school they had identified was only Tlamatlama Primary School in Tembisa but the charity drive was so successful a second school also received stationery.
“It was just so wonderful that we are able to help out more than one school,” schoolteacher Brenda Hall said.
Everyone arrived on the night feeling both excited but nervous, with their sleeping bags and firewood in hand.
For supper, they had a slice or two of some bread and a cup of soup.
“After dinner the pupils formed into groups and used cardboard and paint to create a sign displaying their wish or hope for all South Africans. Everyone then passed time after that by singing around one of the many campfires we had going or playing games such as general knowledge,” Hall said.
By 11pm, most of the pupils and teachers had already climbed into their sleeping bags and they tried their best to get some sleep, as the following Friday was still a normal school day.
“The night was a truly humbling experience and has changed all of our outlooks on life.”
Stanton Jones, secondary school principal, echoed this sentiment: “It was a humbling experience knowing human beings have to endure so much and that they live amongst us, in our communities,” Jones said.
Grade 7 learners Micaela de Villiers and Ashleigh Conry had this to share: “The floor was very cold and we felt it through the cardboard box. Our feet got so cold during the night. One thing we definitely learnt from this experience is how privileged we are.”
Preparatory school teacher Magriet Stander said she would never again drive past a homeless person and not think about their circumstances.
“Homelessness is real, and the SleepOut taught me that it is the responsibility of each citizen of South Africa to do something about it.”
The school would like to thank all those who participated in the project and to those who opened their hearts and donated the stationery.
