Fairytale ending for Alipore Primary School library
The worthy donation will benefit 974 learners at the school between Grades R and 7.
A heart-warming handover took place when the delighted Alipore Primary School principal, Shaun Folkard, accepted a newly renovated library from Illovo Sugar South Africa (ISSA) on Thursday 8 October.
The recent library upgrades worth over R420 000, complete with books, to the Merewent based school, forms part of ISSA’s ongoing ‘Love to Read’ CSI initiative that focuses on foundation phase education and through reading aims to inspire young minds and build future leaders.
“Renovating the library was critical as the library was completely non-functional due to chronic health and safety issues such as borers in the bookshelves, books, ceilings, broken windows, floor tiles, tables and chairs,” said Rodney Rogan, general manager of Illovo Merebank Downstream Production Plant.
The refurbishments and books will benefit 974 learners at the school between Grades R and 7 of which a large number of these learners come from the surrounding areas of Lamontville, Umlazi, Reunion, Isipingo, Merebank and Wentworth.
“Illovo Sugar SA’s purpose is to build thriving communities and we commend our Merebank team for identifying and supporting this local school that was in desperate need of assistance. Once these renovations were completed it seemed only fitting that during Heritage Month we appeal to our SA staff and other partners to support the school even further by furnishing their new library with 1002 reading books,” said Ofentse Dijoe, ISSA communications manager.
Folkard thanked ISSA and acknowledged that through the library and book donations, the company was also helping to improve the language quality of the school’s learners.
“One of the challenges that the teachers face here, is most children’s mother tongue language is isiZulu and moving the children across from isiZulu to English is very difficult especially without all the additional resources to draw on like reading books. These children don’t come from a privileged background so don’t have access to outside libraries, museums and other facilities where learning can take place. You can see the changes in them from Grades R to 3. So, I cannot stress enough that this library is a gift that is going to keep on giving to this community and for that we are truly grateful to ISSA,” enthused Folkard.
