Parents of scholars at Vision Afrika School in Kayamandi are making a desperate plea for the community to help them raise more than R300 000 to stop their school from closing its doors for good.
The parents have formed a committee that is trying to raise awareness and money for their beloved school and will start these efforts with a community fun walk on 2 September 2017.
Vision Afrika is a non-profit organisation which strives to help learners from Kayamandi and Vlottenburg in Stellenbosch to learn and take responsibility for their own future. Their programmes include a pre-primary and primary school, aftercare, supplementary teaching and mentoring up to Grade 12 and support for university applicants.
The Vision Afrika School in Kayamandi that is facing financial problems. PHOTO: Martinette Hay
“We are so privileged to have a school such as Vision Afrika in our community and we will do anything to save it,” said Janet Damane, one of the parents who is part of the committee to raise funds. She added that they are hoping to have R10 000 after the fun walk this coming Saturday.
According to the school’s website, there are 615 learners who will be affected by the closing of the school. Vision Afrika’s marketing manager, Samkela Mhlakaza said that the school’s finances are low because parents struggle to pay the fees. “25% of the funds should come from parents, 25% from the Department of Education subsidy and the further 50% that needs to be raised throughout the year,” he said.
“The school is however very supportive of the parent’s committee and their efforts to raise enough funds to keep our children in school, starting with the fun walk,” Mhlakaza added.
Grade R learners are hard at work on the Mathletics Online Maths learning platform. PHOTO: Facebook.
According to Nangamso Mazwi, another parent and committee member, this fun walk will definitely not bring in enough money to save the school, but it is a good place to start. “It is such short notice to raise such a big amount and we don’t want to ask people for so much money.”
Some of the committee’s other plans to raise funds include a spelling competition and a concert. The parents have already started contributing to the cause by paying R5 for their children every Friday to wear casual clothes to school.
According to Mazwi, it is a very good school. “My son is very happy there and they have Xhosa as a second language. Everything about the school is good.”
The committee is calling upon the community to participate in the fun walk this Saturday by wearing a red or white t-shirt in order to create a sense of unity. People can make donations even if they cannot attend the fun walk by visiting their website https://visionafrika.com/support-us/ for more information. – Andeline Wieland and Martinette Hay