Rally to Read rounds out donation of more than R4m to schools
The week has brought some needed reprieve for many SA residents after February payday rolled around.
However, for the vast majority including those in some of Nelson Mandela Bay’s townships, the period will bring little to no respite from their challenging circumstances, from access to services to simply attending school.
Fortunately for some of the Bay’s poorest schools, they were able to open, albeit broken, school gates, classrooms and hearts as a fleet of Ford Rangers and Everests convoyed onto campuses to round out the third and final year of the Rally to Read programme in the metro.
Ford has for the past 26 years donated millions of rand to bolster literacy in impoverished schools across SA through the initiative.
In February, the Rally to Read in Nelson Mandela Bay completed its third year in Nelson Mandela Bay with a top up of books and various sports balls, benefiting about 4,100 primary school pupils at eight schools.
The contribution over the three-year period totalled more than R4m towards Elukholweni Primary School, WB Tshume Primary School, Nomathamsanqa Primary School, Nkuthalo Primary School, Rocklands Primary School, David Vuku Primary School, Empumalanga Primary School, and Mzomtsha Primary School.
They will all continue to receive educational and classwork support through Ford’s collaboration with the READ Educational Trust (The Rally to Read Projects).
Driving through the bustling township streets dodging livestock, potholes and other vehicles, one is led along a labyrinth of short and narrow roads marked by rubbish strewn along the sides or heaped up at illegal dumpsites.
But despite the smog and sad state of service delivery coupled with criminal and financial challenges, the look of pure joy and gratitude on the faces of pupils and staff as we arrived erased the surroundings for a fleeting moment.
While it was only fleeting, it was wholesome, welcomed and more importantly spoke of the courage of the children who remain focused on their future.
Within minutes of arriving, the stark reality of the pupils was written on the unpainted school walls, broken windows and classrooms stripped of electricity.
The principals of Mzomtsha and Empumalanga primary schools both spoke of the issue of escalating crime, with Mzomtsha pupils being forced to take refuge at neighbouring schools for parts of 2023 as the school was under siege by criminal elements.
The situation meant the fleet of head-turning Everest Platinums and Ranger Raptor Wildtraks and XLTs also included a security car, and in some cases police escorts, to accompany the drop-offs in February.
But once inside, seated at our table and excitedly welcomed by the staff and pupils, pity turned to pride as grade 1s to grade 7s took turns to experience the confidence and perspective afforded to them through the programme.
With their chests out, voices clear and inspiring attitude, the pupils flipped through the pages, reading out loud, and performed plays illustrating the progress being made through the sponsored materials and daily reading activities.
Fortunately, the excitement did not fade as netballs, rugby and soccer balls were flung across courtyards and sandy sports grounds.
And while they were able to forget about their unfortunate circumstances for a day, thanks to corporate buy-in from the Blue Oval, there is a lot more work to be done before these children enjoy the quality of education they are entitled to.