Thankful for a precious resource

It is Wednesday, December 4, the last day of the school year.
Instead of running out of the school gates screaming in anticipation of a long school holiday, pupils of Lubisana Primary School in Nonoti are quietly appreciating something they treasure: running water.
The small school, which has 126 pupils, used to rely on a weekly visit from an Ilembe district municipality tanker for water.
Principal Helga Mfeka said while this was a big help, it was very difficult.
“We could not clean our floors or toilets or water our garden. If there was no water at school we had to send the children with buckets to the chief’s house, or to the river.”
Thanks to a bit of creativity and an initiative from African Bank corporate social investment the school now has four water tanks and a rain-harvesting system, which gives them a reliable water supply.
“Each of the classrooms has been fitted with a gutter which collects water into the tank. This is connected to a tap where pupils can access running water,” said African Bank’s Nathan Wit.
The school is also benefiting from a solar panel.
“We now have a plug point at school and we can switch on lights when it gets dark,” said Mfeka.
The school still faces many challenges including a lack of space, with the principal sharing office space with two grades. Their little sports area is also in need of an upgrade.
“We are thankful to African Bank and others who continue to help us.”