Since 2010, July 18 has transformed into a Neo- Christmas for the less fortunate around the world. Prominent figures and corporate companies have been donating their valuable time and money to underprivileged communities to celebrate the life of a great South African, the late president Nelson Mandela.
Yesterday it was the turn of Leboneng Primary School in Temba to become a beneficiary of this initiative. Cricket South Africa (CSA) along with Momentum Multiply visited the school to install a mobile library, paint the facilities and to hand out gifts. Even though schools are still closed for holidays, the school grounds were flooded with delighted learners and adults, who came to help out with the renovations.
Principal at Leboneng Primary School, Thabo Modipa, expressed his excitement and gratitude to the benefactors. “Our mandate, as given by the Department of Education, is to ensure the provision of good quality education to learners from Grade R to seven.
We honestly struggle to do that with the limited resources we have, so we are happy that CSA and Momentum recognised us and decided to give us the valuable gifts they have given to us” Mr Modipa said.
He said the school and the community were going to benefit from the endowments.
“Our kids now have a library, a place where they will be able to further their knowledge. We are going to make sure that the library is used because it was built for them. And we have also been given a cricket kit worth R10 000, this means our school now has an extra activity for the learners,” he said.
Mr Nkosinathi Mahlangu, Corporate Social Investment manager at Momentum Multiply, explained that this was more than just a Mandela day event.
“We are to introduce, if not rekindle kids’ interest in sports. We want school children to find school interesting and fun, and also help in developing future world leaders,” he said.
Mr Mahlangu said the decision to pick up Leboneng Primary was motivated by the interest in the nearby Hammanskraal cricket oval and by that, they wanted to branch out with their CSI initiatives.
Mr Mahlangu also spoke about Momentum’s expectations with regards to the legacy of the mobile library.
“Sustainability is very key when it comes to projects like this one. We are going to make sure that the library is always working because we are going to appoint the librarians that will work in this library.
“And we are also going to make sure that this facility is also opened for the community on weekends so that the learning horizons can be broadened,” he said.
Cricket South Africa representative, Ms Refiloe Mogashwa, reiterated Mr Mahlangu’s message about the goal of their work on Mandela Day.
She added that it is imperative for the community to become involved in events of this nature because they unite people.
“It is not just only the responsibility of the government to develop young minds. The community at large; teachers, parents and corporates need to assist where they can to make sure children grow up to be successful.
“We have donated cricket kits to that school as well as helped revamp the school facilities and hopefully we can do more in the future,” Mogashwa concluded.
The event was enjoyed by the whole community as they were provided with music, activities and refreshments, courtesy of the donors.
