Pupils from St Andrew’s College raised money by gathering blankets and found suitable books to donate which enabled them to make what they hope was a life-changing donation to children in rural schools.
Pupils from St Andrew’s College raised money by gathering blankets and found suitable books to donate which enabled them to make what they hope was a life-changing donation to children in rural schools.
The donation came ahead of National Book Week, 5-11 September. The items donated included blankets, solar powered reading lamps and books.
Naturally Solar, a company based in Knysna co-sponsored the lamps along with St Andrew’s College Community Engagement Office.
The books were printed by St Andrew’s College Print Unit under a creative commons licence. Books were printed in English and isiXhosa versions of the same stories prepared by African Storybook, an organisation whose materials promote literacy.
Tim Barnard, St Andrew’s Community Engagement Officer said, “For a number of years our pupils have joined various blanket collection drives during winter.
“This new project has allowed us to make a deeper impact on lives of rural children living without electricity, developing an understanding and empathy in our pupils of the challenges of rural life for so many in our community.”
Blankets, lamps and books have been distributed through rural schools in Grahamstown and Keiskammahoek, which then identified children and households who would benefit most.
Pupils from St Andrew’s College distributed the goods during a week-long President’s Award residential project at St Matthew’s Mission, Keiskammahoek at the start of their school holiday. They said that they had learnt so much more than they had taught in their time working as teacher's aides in rural schools.
An iconic quote referring to his experience, by one of the St Andrew’s College pupils, but adopted by many was, “I have changed, for good”.
Barnard also stated that these projects would not be possible without the synergies built out of relationships between schools, non-governmental organisations, compassionate businesses, like Naturally Solar, and individuals who make a decision to care.
