SPSS Alumni Mobilise COVID-19 Relief

PALAPYE: Former students of Selebi-Phikwe Senior Secondary School, popularly known as SPSS, have raised P88,000 to help their former school and some residents of the town to offer relief in the aftermath of coronavirus (COVID-19) outbreak.

The group of former students has been aiding SPSS annually since 1994. Despite the fact that COVID-19 has affected people financially, the outbreak did not deter the former students from mobilising a means to cushion the SPSS community and residents of its effects. In this period of the pandemic, when thoroughly washing or sanitising hands has become the order of the day, the alumni bought a geyser and 1,487 facemasks that were produced by a local tailor.

As that was not enough, the former students also bought five thermometers for the school and 772 packages of locally manufactured sanitary pads for female students.

The chairperson of the alumni, John Moloi said they deliberately sourced the products from local manufacturers as a way of empowering domestic enterprises.

The former students have also extended a gesture of goodwill to residents of the town that they grew up in.

In that respect, they donated 1,000 sanitary pads to augment food parcels and other essentials that were distributed by government under the COVID-19 reliefs. Moloi said they have been working in consultation with the school to measure the impacts of the scourge and look into how they could be alleviated.

“The school has shown a need for the items that we have procured. These are things we had to plan during this difficult period of the COVID-19 lockdown and we will deliver them to the school on Monday,” he said. He added that every year the alumni meet in Selebi-Phikwe for a sponsored walk to raise funds for the school’s prize giving ceremony.

The alumni sponsor the school’s prize-giving with P50,000 annually. They also champion annual career fairs for SPSS students.

Furthermore, Moloi said they have a long-term project of constructing a resource centre at the school. He said the members have been religiously contributing towards the planned project.

The school headmaster, Abraham Senabjwe praised the former students as one of the active alumni around the country. He said the school has benefited massively from the former students for many years.

“They never disappoint, they are always available whenever we call. Previously they bought us expensive items such as a heavy-duty printer, laptops, computers and printers for our students during various prize-giving ceremonies,” he said.

“They have come to the aid of the school once more with thermometers, geysers and sanitary pads. These items will augment the ministry’s efforts to ensure our school meets the required COVID-19 standards. We are grateful to have this alumni as one of our supporting partners.”