Diepsloot Combined School is located in the heart of Diepsloot informal settlement. The School has become a centre for learning for the most underprivileged township youth. The school caters for 2000 learners from Grade R to 12. Officially registered in 2001, the school's mission is to mould learners into diligent, responsible, tolerant, knowledgeable, and accountable individuals who can confidently participate in the global society.
“Over the last 19 years, we have mobilised the private sector to invest effectively in education. The past year, we have been calling on corporates to come on board and afford disadvantaged schools much-needed school chairs. We are pleased that some have heard the call and today we managed to deliver 100 school chairs to Diepsloot Combined School. We are thankful to ChairClub and its clients, the excitement in learners’ faces as the delivery was made, was priceless to witness.” Zelda Jacobs, Adopt-a-School Foundation communications manager.
ChairClub managing director, Travers Hathrill, said one of the biggest demands in South Africa’s economy, is to ensure South Africa’s youth is looked after and given every single opportunity to grow and blossom. Delivering chairs to schools through the Adopt-a-School Foundation, is one of ChairClub’s biggest joys. Ensuring learners have decent comfortable chairs to learn is the most important thing the company can provide at the moment. Understanding the many challenges faced within the education sector in South Africa, particularly around cramped and under-resourced classrooms, ChairClub is very excited about this initiative and the investment in education.
The 100-chair donation was made from the sales of their task and yutu office chair. “We trust the new chairs will uplift the spirits of both learners and educators of Diepsloot Combined School. 2020 has been a very tough year, and we hope receiving this donation so early in the year will encourage them to continue the year 2021 with their heads held high. Thank you, Corporate South Africa and Adopt-a-School Foundation, this would not have been possible without them,” Travers continued.
The foundation works with donors in 615 schools across the country, assisting with the transformation of schools into centres of excellence. Through the implementation of its Whole School Development (WSD) Model, the Foundation ensures that marginalised schools are afforded development in leadership, infrastructure, social welfare and curriculum.
Adopt-a-School has been working with Diepsloot Combined School since 2006. The Foundation, through its partners, has implemented various projects at the school, including support of the Thari Programme, a project of the Cyril Ramaphosa Foundation that focuses on women and children.
“We are thankful to Adopt-a-School Foundation and ChairClub for their generosity and reaching out to our school. We appreciate the 100-chair donation. It will really come in handy as some of our learners had to bring chairs from home. We are thankful for this kind gesture as we know most companies are in trial times due to the pandemic, yet they were able to donate to us in this difficult time,“ said Noel Maringa, Diepsloot Combined School principal.
“Education is a societal responsibility; thank you ChairClub for being so neighbourly,” Noel Maringa continued.
Both Adopt-a-School and ChairClub are still calling on corporates to join the movement and support the campaign by purchasing task chairs to afford seating solutions to learners in rural and urban areas of South Africa throughout the year 2021.
To participate in the campaign and for more information about the work of Adopt-a-School Foundation, please visit www.adoptaschool.org.za and for more information about Chair Club, please visit www.chairclub.co.za.
