AS part of their Adopt A School initiative, which aims at refurbishing dilapidated schools, the Ubomi Foundation plans to take Zamukukhanya Public Primary School in Zwide under their wing, in a bid to save the school from being closed.
The foundation, which is a non-profit organisation (NPO), will embark on their first good deed for the school on Friday, February 14, under the #ShareLittleLove banner, in which they will hand over books and uniform to learners at the school.
The principal, Nozipo Matshoba, said since the school was built in 1969, it had not been renovated and that they had been in search of sponsorship for quite some time to help refurbish the school.
One of the main concerns is that due to the low number of learners at the school, the Department of Education plans to close the school instead of renovating it.
The school, which is one of the oldest ones in Zwide and is seen as a heritage site, only has 200 learners, five permanent teachers and two school governing body teachers.
“People in the community do not want to send their children to the school because they do not have faith in the school. They judge the school according to the condition that it is in,” said Matshoba.
She further said a neighbouring school, Myezo Primary and High School, had closed due to an insufficient number of learners and she did not want the same to happen to her school.
Apart from dwindling numbers, the school also faces many other challenges.
There is currently no fencing at the back of the school, the classes are dilapidated and there is no functioning library.
“The learners’ reading ability is poor because they do not have access to books,” said Matshoba. The school’s garden is also in a state of disrepair and the learners do not have adequate school uniforms.
“We want to restore the reputation of our school.
“Despite the challenges we are faced with, our teachers are experienced and provide quality education,” said Matshoba.
“We don’t want a new building, we want the school to be renovated.”
Miss South Africa 2014, Ziphozakhe Zokufa, was touched by the condition of Zamukukhanya Primary School and plans to join the #ShareLittleLove handover.
Ubomi Foundation founder and chairperson, Siyanda Mxotwa, said it had always been a dream of his to start a foundation for community members in need.
“I have always been involved with charity work, but I needed a bigger platform to help more people,” said Mxotwa.
“Ubomi means ‘give life’ and we want to give life to schools in needy areas which are faced with many challenges.”
He further said the foundation had seven executive members who work tirelessly to form partnerships with major stakeholders in order to provide the schools with the things they need.
Noxolo Qanqa, the chief financial officer of the Ubomi Foundation, who was a former learner at Zamukukhanya Primary School and previously resided in Zwide, suggested the foundation adopt the school.
Mxotwa said Zamukukhanya Primary School was one of three schools which they would be adopting this year and they planned to paint the school, place burglar bars on the windows to improve the security, plaster the dilapidated walls and renovate the floors.
“We want the learners to be proud of their school and instil faith back into the community,” said Mxotwa.
