Fabulous new school auditorium opens
WEMBLEY Primary School, in Phoenix, opened its new hall and sports centre at the weekend.
The 1 000m2 donor-funded Sri Nagin Soni Auditorium would be used for big events, school concerts and proms, but was specifically designed to serve as an indoor sports centre and gymnasium for the school’s pupils.
The auditorium was more than just a new space and structure – it was the realisation of a vision to enrich the lives of the pupils of Wembley Primary, and to serve the needs of the surrounding community.
The school educates pupils from Phoenix, KwaMashu, Ntuzuma, Inanda and Amaoti.
Celebrating its 30th anniversary this year, the auditorium was a gift to the school. It started out as an idea voiced by one teacher at a school meeting held some 10 years ago and culminated in an ongoing fund- raising initiative.
The project began in 2011, but was halted because of a lack of funding. It was resurrected in 2015 and the main and final phase of construction was made possible this year with funds from philanthropist Champak Soni.
Soni and his family were honoured and thanked by the school for their generous contributions.
When asked what prompted him to help the school complete the building, Soni said it had been an easy decision.
“I looked at the building plans and thought: ‘This is such a big hall. There isn’t anything of this scale and size in this community. And to also have a sports centre for the youth...’ I had to help,” he said.
The auditorium was named after Soni’s father, Nagin Soni, in tribute to his legacy. In his address, Soni thanked his father for teaching him his way of life.
“My father instilled this (generosity) in me. I enjoy giving back to the community, just as he did.”
Ram Naidu, the school’s principal, worked tirelessly to manage the completion of the building and was grateful to all the donors.
“Their commitment to community is beyond reproach,” Naidu said.
Simon Lushozi, chief education specialist of the Mafukuzela Gandhi Circuit Management Centre, congratulated the school and spoke of the importance of public/private partnerships.
“Because of limited funding, the Department of Education cannot provide a structure like this for all schools. Pupils at this school come from not so economically viable families, therefore we are grateful for the financial support given to this school.” – Daily News Reporter