Helping out is a privilege

A team effort, a new kitchen and some fresh grass were the ingredients needed to fix up Maguyana Primary school last Friday.
This came in the form of ConinghamLee consultants, whose dedication to social upliftment has given the school a much-needed kitchen and a bit of lawn for the children.
ConinghamLee, an engineering and financial services consulting firm based in Ballito, dedicate one Friday every month to helping crèches and schools in communities that need a helping hand.
Owner Matt Coningham, believes the secret to helping those less fortunate is by getting everyone involved.
“We go on one or two social upliftment projects every month. Everyone at the office buys into it,” he said.
Every month, two staff members come up with an idea and the office goes out and helps with the project.
Their latest endeavour was Maguyana Primary School, which is located near Isinembe in the Driefontein area. The school, which has 612 pupils, was in desperate need of new kitchen facilities.
ConinghamLee sold raffle tickets to raise money for a kitchen container, which cost R50 000.
“We made around R26 000 through our raffles and we want to thank the Ballito community for buying tickets,” said Coningham.
The company donated the balance and the kitchen was delivered on Friday. In addition, Coningham and his team went to the school and laid grass for the pupils to sit on.
The school’s principal, Maureen Khumalo, was overjoyed.
“We feel so great. They have given us so much help. It was a big project, so it took them a while to donate the kitchen but we are so happy,” said Khumalo.
“We have asked the parents to look after the kitchen, so that it does not get vandalised,” she added.
Coningham plans to plant some trees to provide the children with shade.
He believes that once a person starts helping the needy, they can never stop.
“It is a privilege to do this kind of work. These people really need the help.”