Stationery drive for learners delivers great results

GRAAFF-REINET — Last year, after chatting to the principals of the two schools in Umasizakhe, DA Cllr Samantha Graham discovered that despite the allocation of stationery to the learners from the Department of Education, the packs they are given only last about one term.

This means that the parents of these learners then have to find funds to buy stationery for the rest of the year. In schools where learners are not required to pay school fees due to the high levels of poverty in that area, the majority of parents are also unable to purchase additional stationery.

“I am also aware of the fact that many of the more affluent learners in the other schools buy a full set of brand new stationery every year, irrespective of the stationery that they have over at the end of a year,” said Cllr Graham.

“This gave me the idea to request that learners from Union and Volkskool donate any leftover stationery at the end of last year for us to recycle and donate to the two schools”.

Cllr Graham was contacted by local resident Danelle Botes, who had seen the sanitary towel project that had been initiated last year, and who wanted to get involved in a meaningful local project.

Cllr Graham asked her initially to assist with the stationery project, and then the enthusiastic Botes was able to run with the campaign. Not only did Botes get a large amount of leftover stationery, but she also received donations of new stationery and money which she used to purchase more stationery.

When the two ladies visited the two schools just prior to the opening, they determined that their most immediate needs were scientific calculators for the Nqweba Secondary School maths students.

This is because these must be bought by the parents, and are not part of the stationery allocation from the Department. A specific calculator is required, as the cheaper basic scientific calculator does not have all the functions needed.

Thembalesizwe Primary School still desperately needs lined and unlined exercise books for their Junior Primary children.

With the remaining donations that had been received, they purchased another three calculators and 50 books.

While the schools were very grateful for the donations, they remain in need of more books and calculators. Anyone who would like to assist in this project for the umasizakhe schools is asked to contact Cllr Graham on 083 409 9196 or Danelle Botes on 076 388 8479.