Cape town to reap fruits of education thanks to farmer
A farmer’s dream has united a community and resulted in a small town’s revolutionary high school.
Philip Jonker donated 8ha of his wine estate in the Western Cape town of Bonnievale, then watched in wonder.
“It just rose from the ground in less than three months until painting stage,” he said.
From clearing the land of rocks to planting hedges, residents arrived in droves to help build Jakes Gerwel High School, which will open in January to pupils in Grade 8 and 9. Architects, engineers, construction companies and attorneys also donated their services.
“I could never have executed this alone. It’s made our community reach out, trust and understand each other better,” said Jonker, who was initially hesitant about launching the project.
It will save local children commutes of 30km or more to schools in Robertson or Swellendam.
The farmer’s intense learning curve involved getting as many people as possible in the town of 12 000 to contribute “sweat, time, skills or money”.
He and the school’s voluntary governing body of 15, including a winery worker, teachers and an actuary, raised R41-million in a year, while the Western Cape education department contributed R34-million.
Maintaining Jakes Gerwel as a no-fee school will mean raising R2-million annually, while the education department will cover teachers’ salaries.
Augusta Brandt, head of hospitality and the “very smart kitchen”, said: “This is going to be a place where children have a second chance in life.”
Brandt, national chairwoman of the South African Congress for Early Childhood Development, said the school had already changed people’s perceptions of each other.
“The poorest and the richest, children and old people, different races and backgrounds gather together. Now, greeting each other in town comes from a different perspective,” she said.
Ronaldo Prins, 15, who will start in Grade 9 in January, said he was looking forward to playing rugby and developing his love of food. “I like cooking and preparing food and want to be a chef.”
For many the school will represent a safe haven.
“It’s going to be especially good for kids that get involved in drugs. They will be productively kept out of that, as school ends late in the afternoon,” said Deidré Kühn , 15, who wants to become a doctor.