Help for Grassy Park English Church Primary

‘The building

THE English Church Primary School in Grassy Park is the oldest school in the Cape Flats.

During its 106-year history, the school has produced many of the city’s most prominent doctors, lawyers and business people. Now the historic establishment is in dire need of assistance, with facilities in a state of disrepair.

As the school is housed on church property, school management claim that government will not take respons- ibility for its upkeep, leaving them to fend, financially, for themselves.

But a group of 1984 alumni has taken it upon themselves to repair the damages to the quaint school.

Comprising of four women, they started a fund called Help4EC which aims to host fundraisers every school term.

All proceeds will go directly towards the renovation of the school toilets, the repair of the tarmac and replacing of window panes.

According

to alumnus, Michelle van Kervel, the school building is “old but very solid, but the windows rattle and are a safety risk for the children”.

The committee has success- fully acquired assistance from the Grassy Park Mosque and the Good Sheppard Anglican Church in the area to replace four bungalows used to school the Grade R classes.

The walls of the bungalows are falling off, not only causing the children to freeze during the winter, but they also pose a safety risk for the little ones.

Earlier this week the group hosted a fundraiser at the Barnyard Theatre in the Willowbridge Lifestyle Centre.

However, the collected funds are still not enough and more is needed to begin repairs to the toilets.

It will cost about R100 000 to fix the broken toilet bowls, plumbing, floors and to paint the walls.

According to Van Kervel, the group will tackle one project at a time, depending on the availability of funds.

To help renovate this timeless treasure, follow the Help4EC Facebook page or go to https:// gofundmesa. co. za/ help- grassy- park- ec- primaryschool-goal-r100-000/

asanda.sokanyile@inl.co.za

risk for the pupils’