Life will never be the same for the learners at Bongolethu Primary School in Browns Farm after they received school uniforms and food parcels from Fertile Soil Global (FS Global) on Saturday 25 March.
The school also received five 25l drums of paint, 10 toilet sets, groceries and 100 chairs.
At least 465 learners benefited from the uniforms.
A total of 100 learners got jerseys, 134 school pants, 84 school socks, 134 school shirts and 119 pairs of school shoes.
Speaking on behalf of the school, teacher Zukiswa Ngamlana expressed her gratitude to the FS Global members for their generosity.
Ngamlana said the school will never be the same again. “We are so happy as staff. We believe that the new school uniforms will boost the confidence of the learners, and it will encourage them to come to school regularly. Also, as the learners came with the parents to the school we gave them food parcels so that they could have something to eat at home,” said Ngamlana.
Explaining how the school met with the organisation, Ngamlana said it was through a friend. She said the organisation was looking for a primary school in the community to donate some material.
Representatives of the organisation later visited the school for a presentation which was warmly welcomed by the teachers.
FS Global manager Noel Ndihokubwayo said they aim to change the lives of the learners and the image of the school.
He stated that they are an international organisation. They are a charity organisation that helps disadvantaged communities.
“We are helping wherever we can. It can be a school, orphanage home, senior club anywhere. Our aim is to change people’s lives to be better,” he said.
Ndihokubwayo stated that during a visit to the school, they saw the need for it to be revamped.
“We prioritise education. That is why when we saw the conditions of the school we decided to do something. We donated paints and toilet sets which include toilet pots and cisterns,” said Ndihokubwayo.
He stated that some of the groceries will be given to the parents.
Parent Nosizwe Nkwelele thanked the staff and the organisation for the initiative.
The unemployed single mother of three said she was ecstatic that her child finally received the uniform.
“It’s painful when you see other children wearing school uniforms and your child doesn’t have one because you can’t afford it. I was always praying that my child should get a uniform like other children and my prayers were answered today,” she said.
Nkwelele also thanked the organisation for the food parcel. She said it would make a difference.