MEDIA RELEASE
SANRAL supports education with donations to NJ Heyns Special School in Kimberley
Caption: NJ Heyns Special School Deputy Principal (technical) Sandra Keith and André De Clerk, Deputy Principal (academic), expressed their gratitude to SANRAL for the computer and uniform donations made to the school. Luphelo Ngalo, SANRAL Stakeholder Coordinator (left) and Zingisa Tshali, Marketing and Communications Coordinator handed over the goods.
Kimberley, 19 August 2024 – The South African National Roads Agency Limited SOC (SANRAL) recently made donations of school uniforms, laptops and desktop computers to NJ Heyns Special School in Kimberley, which focuses on teaching technical skills to learners who may otherwise not do well in mainstream schools.
The principal, Dirk Neels, who was recently appointed, said he was approached by the SANRAL team who wanted to bring change to children who are disabled or in this case, intellectually challenged.
“With the laptops and desktops donated to the school the learners now have a better chance of helping themselves by doing research not only in their fields of study but also for projects and assignments,” said Neels.
But none of this would be possible if it was not for Thandiwe Mfolo, a community activist who referred SANRAL to the school. The school appreciated the donation and could not praise her enough during the handover ceremony.
One of the most important things they can’t afford is their school uniforms. Neels said they are so grateful for the uniforms since it’s still winter season and the long sleeve shirts and long pants will come in handy.
Luphelo Ngalo, SANRAL’s Western Region stakeholder relations coordinator, said that giving back to the community is a priority for SANRAL. “The donation consists of 10 used laptops, 10 data projectors, 17 used desktops and much-needed uniforms.”
Ngalo said that SANRAL, as a state-owned agency, look at themselves as an enabling agent. “We wanted to enable kids through education and empower them to reach beyond their borders.”
He said education is not just academic, it’s practical skills that you learn, skills with which you can go out and get a job. “I was impressed by the workshop that they have here, the skills they have to turn plastic waste into pavement bricks, which could potentially be used in a SANRAL project.”
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