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COMMUNITY RESPONSIBILITY
At the outset let me introduce Spion Kop Lodge’s Mpondweni and Schietsdrift Primary School Project to you.
Mpondweni consists of 59 pupils The pupils who attend the school are the children of the local farm labourers and labour tenants in the valley and on the R 600 district road. Because of its location some children walk about 10 Km to school, some barefoot. The parents respect education and understand that they are giving their children an opportunity, which not many of them have had. Those who have attended school do not speak English so it is difficult for the pupils to practise English in their homes. They are supposed to be taught through the medium of English, however the teachers themselves are not completely conversant with English.
There are three teachers at the school, namely , Mr Mbele ,Miss Dubazni and the headmistress Miss Welcome, who share grades 1,2,and 3 –Grades 4 and 5, and Grades 6 and 7.Imagine this!
The schools commences from grade one to grade seven and is a co-ed school. The ages range from 4.5 to 14 year olds. The children walk some 1-15km distance to the school.The children have to wake up at five thirty in the morning,some without breakfast.
At the school the buildings are in a reasonably good condition, however there is no electricity at the school, therefore no photocopy machines, computers etc. The home language is Zulu.
Uniform: The boys wear a Khaki uniform in summer, black shoe or bare foot.
The Girls wear a black gym tunic with short sleeves in summer and long sleeves in winter, black shoes or bare foot.
The floors are concrete, making them very hot in summer and extremely cold in winter. The children are provided with a basic meal in the morning, which is prepared on an open fire.There are no ceilings in the roofing ,so no insulation.The windows need glazing.
Mpondweni is on the district road D742, is situated on a piece of land which is leased for the school, fairly close to the Tugela river on the track which the British soldiers travelled, in order to cross the Tugela River during the Battle of Spion Kop in KwaZulu Natal South Africa.
Fairly close to Mpondweni is a School called Schietsdrift. With two teachers Ms Eunice and Miss Zulu. from grades 1-7. They have some 40 pupils, the school building leaves much to be desired.Can you imagine trying to cope with these different age groups in just two rooms.Concrete floors broken windows,corrugated iron roof.
My aim is to amalgamate these two schools, if we are successful this would give us five teachers in the school so less combined classes. We could pool our few resourses.The standard of education would therefore improve immediately. Were I able to establish links in the UK we could target a wish list and make this school a leading educational institution.
However the biggest problem that we are faced with at present is the lack of transport for these rural children, there simply isn’t and, they walk, some children walk for twenty km - what we urgently require is a bus or Kombi,I am able to purchase one for + - ,R 190 000.00.but it is almost as big a project as trying to climb the Himalayas. It is huge in our terms.
Being a rural community it is not an affluent society. Many of the parents themselves do not speak any English, many are unemployed and HIV has struck many families.
To quantify the impact that your support would have on these children not only now, but in their future is very difficult, but to be there when we used a tape recorder for the first time or when they mastered their poem in English for Bernadette, in front of the whole school, one does not need word to express and understand the extent of the contribution. It just fills ones heart with joy. We are making a difference! " Umuntu ,Ngumuntu Ngabantu " Roughly translated :" A person only becomes a human through other people." By investing in the future of others we can make our dreams come true.
Our involvement at Mpondweni and Schietsdrift Schools, I am a retired school teacher, and my daughter Bernadette, who matriculated from St Anne's College two years ago has been involved since the age of 15 (now aged 20), developed an interest enthusiasm and outreach at the school, Bernadette used to go down to Mpondweni, during her holidays assisting with reading to the children and speaking English.
Recently we had a young guest, Sarah, who came out from the UK, to the Lodge on holiday and once we introduced her to Mpondweni, she decide that she would come out to Spion Kop and volunteer her services for six months. Sarah found the experience most rewarding, and extremely challenging. She is a qualified teacher so benefits to these rural children have been huge. As she is a young lady of 24, without any other income Sarah found it difficult to manage with out some form of revenue, as this was Sarah’s first form of employment and as such she has not managed to save a small nest egg. We at Spion Kop Lodge sponsored Sarah’s board and lodging and transport. The children have made tremendous strides in their English since Sarah arrived. I wish you could see the development in the children's ability to communicate in English!
I have set up a Gap student operation with Leeds University .We could uplift the children by getting in more volunteers and having more control over the standards etc.We could set up a Camp for pupils from the UK, who come out here for a period for a Berg, Bush and Battlefield Experience, combined with assisting with education for these pupils. Reading to them, play sport, assist with numeracy.The opportunities are endless. Can you imagine how much they would learn and how our children could develop from such a programme! I suppose if you dream it you can do it
"The Education of a child is a sacred trust beyond material considerations – it is the challenging task of laying the foundation which will enable him/her to embark on the rest of her life – Education is not filling a bucket, but lighting a fire."
We are primarily involved with Tourism, but my first love is teaching, and it is my firm belief that we could form a link between Tourism and Education, this would have an amazing effect on rural Education. I have set up a small trust fund for Mpondweni through our attorney Tony Christopher. (The past Chairman of St Anne's College and of the Kwa Zulu Natal Law Society.)
Were we able to set up a link with the Soccer clubs in the U.K. Can you imagine what a difference this would do for the improvement of Education of the rural child in S.A. The child who has to overcome or rather cope with huge emotional problems with no counselling or assistance, generally having only one parent, or living with the grandmother having lost both parents, due to the HIV problems facing this country.
I am passionate about Education! Teaching was my hobby.
A child is like a butterfly in the wind, some can fly higher than others, But each one flies the best it can, Why compare one against the other? Each one is different. Each one is special. Each one is beautiful.
The purpose of this mail is to demonstrate how we can make a difference in the lives of our children.
"Respect for the fragility and importance of an individual life is still the mark of an educated man "
With support from the UK, Kwa Zulu Natal could become the leading province in Education, in this country. The opportunities are endless. With the World Cup Soccer coming to S A, we would like to develop ties with the Liverpool Soccer Club. One end of the Liverpool Soccer Stadium, is known as the “ KOP ” in memory and honour of the number of Liverpudlian Soldiers who fought and died on Spioenkop), imagine if we could involve the Liverpool Soccer Club etc.
I guess all I am asking is for your support to assist me to get this idea off the ground. I will do all the work and motivate the ideas. Imagine if we could uplift the Education, become an example.
As our most important resource our neighbours and their children need to be empowered to play a central role in achieving their goals.
Tourism, Education and development are interrelated there are numerous opportunities existing. Exposing the neighbours to the ecco tourism and the beneficial effect this can have on the economic future of our area giving employment opportunities to our children once they are educated especially if they are fluent in English.
As SA has dramatically changed over the last 11 years of Democracy This union of Tourism and Education could lead the way for other educational developments in SA. With your support and assistance, we could be a forerunner in uplifting rural education benefiting the pupils of our neighbours and staff. You would indirectly have, improved Education and enabled us to sustain the rural people.
The success of the idea and relationship depends on the support received from you. Change is a necessary part of progression in any aspect of life .It is through change that we reassess our strengths and weaknesses, become aware of new opportunities, and realise what our true goals are. I do not believe that one is able to quantify the benefit that your input would have on the future of Mpondweni/Schietsdrift School and its pupils.
Completed Projects For 2007.
- Lynette Heron (Spion Kop Lodge ) co-ordinates the Project.
- Painted the interior and exterior of Mpondweni School.Thanks to the RAF from the UK.
- Mrs Wickins from the UK ( a previous guest ) sent a donation ( via Mrs Sue Hammill ) to assist with the paint with which the a young group of students from the British RAF painted Mpondweni School.
- 3 x Students came out from Liverpool for six weeks to assist in the classrooms.
- 3 x Students came over from Leeds Met University for three weeks to assist in the classrooms.
- Received a donation from Rachel Wilson - R 8500.00
- Received a Check for one thousand pounds from the McCosh Trust Fund
- Received a donation from Aidan Herron ,and St Teresa’s for the Trust Fund.
- Received Milo From Nestle.( arranged by Mrs Sue Hammill)
- Christmas Packets were sponsored by Mrs Sue Hammill.
- Venture Security( a division of Hammill & Associates (Pty) Ltd ) :have over the past 12 months Venture Security has contributed equipment, books, stationery and furnishings to the approximate value of R13,500.00
Projects on our wish list :
We need to upgrade the school our wish list is;
- Security fencing – R 27 000.00Repair the leeking roof: R 29 000.00
- Plaster the walls and Paint: 29 000.00
- Plant trees and have a few benches and activities for the children eg Climbing Frame Jungle Jim swings etc. – R 25 000.00
- Repair accommodation for teachers so that they do not have to travel 48 km x twice daily. R 45 000.00, and so that we have extra accommodation for UK Gap Students
- Bus Fund – + or -, R 190 000.00
Learnership Programme for young Zulu Students. - Accommodation ( backpacker- style to host volunteer Students)
- Sports field for the children to play sport.
SPION KOP MPONDWENI-SCHIETSDRIFT TRUST
We have set up a Legal Board of Trustees who will monitor the Trust and work and achieving our Goals, actively involved in the decision making and running of the schools
Trustees :
Mrs Lynette Heron – (Director of Company)Educationalist - Founder Member ,
Mr Tony Christopher ( Lawyer)
Mr Thami Sithole ( Businesman),
Mrs Nkosi (Regional Director of Education)
Mrs Sue Hammill –a Director of Venture Security, a division of Hammill & Associates (Pty) Ltd and an accredited (Assessor) ,
Mr Bongani Maseko (Ezemvelo,KZN Wildlife Uthukela District,Conservation Officer),
David Lee (Accountant)
Bernadette Heron (Trainee Teacher BED),
Thank you for your interest in improving the Education of these young South Africans.
I look forward to hearing from you.
Sincerely
Lynette Heron
Spion Kop Lodge
www.spionkop.co.za
spionkop@futurenet.co.za
(t)/(f) +27 036 488 1404
Lynette Heron
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