GRAAFF-REINET NEWS — On Friday, May 18, teachers, learners and parents from impoverished areas in the Graaff-Reinet community gathered together at the Umasizakhe Community Hall to welcome a 'Back to School' initiative.

This community engagement is aimed at schools in need, from in and around the Beyers Naude municipal district and was initiated by the Sarah Baartman District Municipality.

Sarah Baartman District Municipality Mayor, Eunice Khunjuzwa Kekana, described the purpose of this initiative as a simple and straightforward one, centred on education which she described as a societal matter affecting all members of the community.

Mayor Kekana also stressed the importance and need for children to be taught computer literacy from an early age. She urged principals and council members to ensure that the donated school supplies, be properly distributed and maintained.

Thanks to an agreement between the District Municipality and China’s, Ginseng Peoples Republic, Mayor Kekana’s dream and vision of ensuring that each and every school in need has access to their very own computer lab, is slowly being realised. This is as result of a generous donation of various educational electronic devices from a large Chinese firm.

Among the donated items each school will receive are printers, hard drives, monitors, projectors and televisions.

In addition, schools like Isibane and Thembelisizwe also received a large donation of sanitary pads in the hopes of curbing the number of girls not in attendance each month as a result of a lack of access to feminine hygiene products.

Pupils, parents and educators alike, all looked on in awe as each item was presented to the community members in attendance.

Selected members from the group of learners and parents, in conclusion, also took to the podium to convey their sincere gratitude and excitement regarding the new upgrade.

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