De Waveren Primary School in Ruyterwacht is cooking up a storm since receiving refurbished kitchen and dining facilities, courtesy of GrandWest.
During site visits to the school last year GrandWest determined that the existing kitchen and dining facilities were not safe spaces in which to prepare or serve meals to learners.
Once engineers determined the scope and scale of the project, the Socio-Economic Development (SED) Team got to work to make the project a reality for 2024.
“Ultimately we spent R311 000 at De Waveren Primary School to increase the size and upgrade the school’s kitchen,” said GrandWest General Manager Mervyn Naidoo.
“We equipped the spaces with electricity and gas tanks as well as plumbing for washing areas and a geyser to supply hot water.”
Outside the roofs and gutters were repaired and the buildings painted, while inside the kitchens were fitted with lockable doors, serving hatches, dividing walls, new ceilings with LED lighting, windows, tiled flooring, kitchen cupboards, shelves and other storage space.
Each kitchen now has sinks and stainless steel tables, while De Waveren Primary has also received appliances such as ovens, extractor fans, freezers and fridges.
Naidoo said: “The kitchen and dining areas we first saw were not fit for the purpose, but now they’re serving up smiles with every dish.”
a well-deserved meal
Ward councillor Chris Jordaan said he wants to thank GrandWest for its constant outreach to schools, especially De Waveren Primary School.
He said: “To Mervyn Naidoo and his staff we the community of Ward 28 in Ruyterwacht sincerely appreciate your venture and trust that many other schools will follow suit.”
Jordaan explained the reason for schools, especially primary schools, to have a kitchen is that most of the children come to school hungry.
Most of their parents have lost their jobs, live on social grants on which they have to fend for themselves and their families, he says.
“A kitchen will provide a well-deserved meal for the day and it enhance the learning ability of the learners.”
De Waveren Primary has served the Ruyterwacht community since 1939. It had 582 learners and 19 teachers.
