School hall dreams take shape in Eldos
The Trevor Noah Foundation’s Faranani infrastructure project is set to bring relief to overcrowded Willow Crescent Secondary School.
The community of Ward 18 attended a meeting at Don Mateman Hall in Eldorado Park on April 23, where the Trevor Noah project to build a school hall at Willow Crescent Secondary School was introduced.
The Trevor Noah Foundation (TNF), in partnership with Youth Build South Africa, has launched the Faranani Infrastructure Project, which is aimed at improving educational infrastructure in three underserved communities: Ivory Park, Braamfischerville, and Eldorado Park.
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One of the projects is the construction of a much-needed school hall at Willow Crescent Secondary School in Eldorado Park.
The school lacks a hall, forcing learners to write exams in a church. Moreover, the school does not have enough classes to accommodate learners.
The new hall will not only benefit the learners but also serve as a community hub, providing a safe space for residents to gather and engage in various activities.
In Eldorado Park, the project began in 2022, with 100 young people recruited from wards 17, 18 and 119, including those from Freedom Park. Of these, 50 are undergoing SETA-accredited training, equipping them with the skills necessary to build the school hall.
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According to Amanda Mokoena, school liaison officer for the Trevor Foundation in Eldorado Park, the project is moving forward despite the delays.
“Our plans are still sitting with the City of Johannesburg, we are waiting for them to be approved, and once that is done, we are going to do a groundbreaking ceremony.”
“I can’t wait to see the completion of this project, it is something we are looking forward to as a school. The school is overcrowded, it was built for 900 learners but is standing at about 1700 learners.
“When we have assemblies, some are waiting outside in the sun. It is time for us to have a school hall as it will also help with the writing of matric exams,” said Olivia Hill, the principal of Willow Crescent Secondary School.
Jamil August, a business community leader said, “I hope that the TNF will improve the quality of education in Eldorado Park and build a hall that will benefit the entire community.”
