Various organisations host soup kitchen at St Annes primary school
Activities on the day included a soup kitchen, vegetable garden planting, cleaning up and refurbishing playgrounds and areas around the school.
Various organisations collaborated on Friday to host a community outreach initiative at St Annes primary school in Atteridgeville.
“We picked St Anne’s because this is one of those communities that support us. We are here to support our future leaders,” said Andi Wright, marketing director for Mars Volunteer Program (MVP), which is run by Mars Multi-Sales South Africa.
Activities included a soup kitchen, vegetable garden planting, cleaning up and refurbishing playgrounds and areas around the school.
According to organisers, St Annes has problems not unique to many schools in urban townships that the charitable work was aimed at addressing.
“We have identified a need for schools like these that are largely underfunded,” Makatini said.
“A lot of the parents that send their kids here can financially contribute to the school. There aren’t any playgrounds, the walls are dilapidated, and kids go to school and come back hungry. That’s why we decided to tap in with some of these communities supporting us through initiatives like these.”
Principal Martha Gladwin welcomed the initiative, stating that when approached by MVP, she saw an opportunity to teach much-needed values to her learners.
“This day came as a blessing as we close Mandela Month, we still want our kids to keep a strong hold on the values he taught,” Gladwin said.
The principal said that learners have been struggling with various subjects and welcomed any assistance.
“The barriers in some subjects are hindering our kids. We have teachers that have the experience to deal with this but we typically teach according to the level of the child. This is why some kids are placed in prevocational programmes based on assessments, some kids have bursaries in schools like Boys High, and they’re excelling because St Annes is one of the best schools in Atteridgeville that does this well.”
St Annes said that it was targeting a 95% pass rate at the end of term 4 and each child had also set their subject target.
“When targets aren’t met, discussions are held to plan ways of improvement.”
Gladwin thanked all the stakeholders involved in the effort for donations, and the supportive parents as well.
Head girl, Jasmine Mzimba and head boy, Atlegang Phasha also expressed their gratitude for the effort made to support their peers.
“This was a good day, we feel good… the gratitude is overflowing, and we are very thankful for the food and donations,” said Mzimba.
“Some learners live alone, they don’t have parents or guardians, and we still manage to be one of the best schools around so I’m happy to be here,” Phasha.
Mzimba is among the top 5 best-performing learners in academics at the school and says that her favourite subject is natural sciences, whilst Phasha’s is English.
Mzimba wants to become a chef and Phasha aims to become an actor.
“People must be themselves, no one must force them to be what they don’t want to be. They must go on with life and achieve their goals,” Mzimba said.
Motorists have their say on Aarto demerit point system
Do you have more information about the story?
Please send us an email to editorial@rekord.co.za or phone us on 083 625 4114.
For free breaking and community news, visit Rekord’s websites: Rekord East
For more news and interesting articles, like Rekord on Facebook, follow us on Twitter or Instagram
