School to receive computer lab

A FULLY furnished computer lab for a Chatsworth school was made possible by donations received during the Ride4education cycle ride.

Azhar Vadi, CEO of Salaamedia and the SALAAM foundation, said the Ride4education was a cycle ride through the country aimed at uplifting impoverished children and schools.

“We started on Monday in

Musina on the Zimbabwean border and are cycling through Limpopo, Mpumalanga and northern Kwazulunatal, ending in Chatsworth next Saturday.”

Vadi said along the route they visited schools, in some of the most forgotten parts of South Africa, that faced social ills.

“The child seeking an education under the most trying of circumstances is our focus. We aim to make this ride an eye-opening one while documenting the needs and challenges faced by pupils seeking an education,” said Vadi.

He said through community interaction and discussion the idea of supporting a school in Chatsworth became apparent.

“We looked at the schools in the area and identified Summerfield Primary. At the same time we looked at the community, the poverty, social ills, prevalence of drugs, gangsterism and violence. These are all contributors to our decision when we want to implement a project in a particular area. We hope that through the provision of these resources we can help stem the spread of these social ills,” he said.

A computer centre will be opened at the Summerfield Primary School.

He added that they would assist 10 other schools in the various towns.

“But they would not get a computer lab. We would provide stationery and uniforms for these schools. Summerfield was chosen to get the lab.”

Vadi said despite the severe challenges that children faced they hoped to change to their lives.

“To support our campaign, focused on upliftment through education, people just need to follow us on social media, listen to our broadcasts and donate.”

Paul Naidoo, Summerfield Primary School principal, said he was grateful and humbled by the donation.