An initiative by the SAPREF Community Liaison Forum (CLF) has brought Christmas cheer to a number of needy school children in South Durban.
Sixty children from 60 schools in the area have received R500 Gem Schoolwear gift vouchers to purchase school uniforms for the 2010 school year. The schools include some in Umlazi, Lamontville, Wentworth, Merebank, Isipingo and the informal settlement of Malukazi.
The project was initiated by members of the SAPREF Community Liaison Forum who opted to forego the traditional year end celebration in favour of uplifting the children in the community in some way. “In the true spirit of Christmas they felt the funds should rather go towards a worthy cause and it was decided to assist underprivileged children with school uniforms,” explained SAPREF’s sustainable development manager, Lindiwe Khuzwayo.
SAPREF provided funding for 50 of the R500 vouchers and five vouchers came from private donors connected to SAPREF. On hearing of the initiative, Gem Schoolwear offered to sponsor five vouchers, bringing the total to 60 vouchers.
“The recipients of the vouchers all come from severely deprived backgrounds. To identify the most needy learner at each school, SAPREF worked with teachers who manage the Department of Education’s programme for Orphans and Vulnerable Children at the various schools,” said Khuzwayo.
The SAPREF CLF was established six years ago and comprises representatives of over 20 community organisations, local authorities and SAPREF. It meets monthly to discuss environmental and social issues of importance to the local community. It is chaired by an independent facilitator and aims to find mutually acceptable solutions to challenges through constructive discussion and debate. The CLF has been instrumental in developing various social initiatives such as training for community leaders and soccer development for school learners.
For more information please contact:
Margaret Rowe
Communications Manager
SAPREF
Tel: 031 480 1892 or 082 880 4905
Margaret.rowe@sapref.com