Touch Africa lends a helping hand by upgrading schools

(pic courtesy The Herald)

Eastern Cape non-profit organisation Touch Africa, which has already helped four desperately needy schools across the province this year, is now giving others the opportunity to make a difference by offering corporate team building days in schools that need help.

The non-profit organisation, which organises the annual Enduro Africa bike ride between Port Elizabeth and Durban and which hosted princes William and Harry when they participated two years ago, has been hard at work this year replacing mud hut classrooms with brick ones, rehabilitating an out-of-order school bus and giving children in a tin shack creche a brand- new building and equipment.

Director Elise Fish said the organisation had already touched 4000 lives this year. “We do it because there is such a desperate need in this country. I live with the ethos that we should pay things forward, plus it’s good for the soul to give back to the community.”

In Willowvale, Touch Africa found a school with mud hut classrooms and poor roofing that kept children out of school on rainy days. “We were shocked when we saw the conditions of this school which is attended by many orphaned children, but the school has an extremely dedicated principal who has been teaching in appalling conditions.”

Touch Africa has already built one classroom, but needs R150000 to complete another classroom for which the foundation has already been laid.

In Storms River, the organisation has turned a tin shack creche with a leaking roof and no lights, heating or equipment into the sparkling Ilitha Educare Centre with a proper classroom, kitchen and toilets. “The teacher has even put herself through Montessori training and is now a qualified pre-school teacher,” said Fish.

In Willowmore, Touch Africa found that Elmore Primary School with 1200 pupils, many of whom had to walk long distances to get to school because their “ancient” school bus was out of action.

“We completely rehabilitated the bus ... so children will have transport to school and cultural activities.”

John Masiza Primary in Port Elizabeth’s Walmer Township also benefited. “The classrooms were crumbling, rusty and a health risk,” said Fish.

The school now has two renovated classrooms, a netball court and updated soccer pitch and grandstand.

Now Touch Africa is offering team building days with a difference so the more privileged can get involved in such things as school rehabilitation, fixing desks, building a jungle gym or preparing a vegetable garden.

(This story is courtesy of The Herald. Used with permission.)