Joy Riders reach out to Bana Ba Thari
The Joy Ride Cycling Club was among the first of the many organisations who got off the mark early with their 67 Minutes for Madiba activities this year when, last Saturday, they delivered a donation of blankets, stationery and sanitary towels to be used by learners of Bana Ba Thari Special School in Solomondale. The …
The Joy Ride Cycling Club was among the first of the many organisations who got off the mark early with their 67 Minutes for Madiba activities this year when, last Saturday, they delivered a donation of blankets, stationery and sanitary towels to be used by learners of Bana Ba Thari Special School in Solomondale.
The Polokwane based club which has mostly local members but also some from as far as Mankweng, decided on the date for their outreach because most members could be present on the day. They also wanted to use the opportunity to create awareness for Mandela Month and introduce the club to more people.
Joined by members of Polokwane Cycling Club they cleaned the school yard, garden and the classrooms and watered the plans in the school yard.
Chairperson of the Club, Shaun Ramahlodi said they saw the need at the school during one of their social rides and decided to reach out to the learners. “We started the club six months ago with the sole aim of riding and making a difference in our communities. We have members from different backgrounds. We are concerned about our impoverished communities and we hope that the little we gave the school will make a difference,’’ Ramahlodi said.
He also mentioned that this was not their first outreach as earlier, in April, they provided 92 children from Ga-Phago Village in Moletjie with among others, basic food items and blankets.
Deputy Principal at Bana Ba Thari Special School, Monica Nkoana said the gesture will improve the lives of the learners at the school. “We cater for 163 learners with different intellectual impediments at the school and most of them are from low socio-economic statuses. Therefore, their families can’t afford most of the things their children need. This will be a relief to their parents. Most of the girl learners at the schools use socks, toilet paper and newspapers during their period so the sanitary towels will come in handy. The blankets will help students with epilepsy because when they get seizures they want to lie on the floor and we will be able to cover them with the blankets,” Nkoana said.
Story, photos & video: Herbert Rachuene
>>herbert.observer@gmail.com
