IMPERIAL and Ukhamba’s Community Development Trust today officially opened the Langalibelele Dube Primary School Library and Resource Centre in Lakeside Extension 2 Orange Farm, in an effort to bring a meaningful learning environment to the children of the area.
“This school marks the 14th library that we will be opening, where this centre will cater for 1007 learners, from grade R to grade 7, as well as 24 teachers,” says Shayda Arbee, Executive Manager for the trust.
“As Nelson Mandela once said: ‘Education is the most powerful weapon which you can use to change the world’, which affirms this project, and so today, the IMPERIAL and Ukhamba Trust is especially proud to be launching the Langalibelele Dube Primary school Library and Resource Centre, which will continue to foster a solid learning environment for those underprivileged children who so desperately seek education.”
The Langalibalele Primary School was built in 2005 and is erected on a rocky outcrop of huge boulders, painted to bring a splash of colour to what could have been a drab and dreary environment. On one part of the grounds the school has cultivated a flower garden, around a much sought-after jungle gym.
Arbee elaborates on why the school was selected: “The principal, Ms. Malunga and her team are very dedicated and proud professionals who do everything in their power to encourage a culture of teaching and learning. As a result, the choice to open up the resource centre and library was an easy one for us – as the school is truly deserving of such a facility and fosters a true culture of, and enthusiasm for, learning and development.”
For the second year, Langalibalele has been awarded meritorious recognition for their achievements in the Annual National Assessment (ANA) results in English and Mathematics across all grades, with one teacher winning in the National Teaching Awards (NTA) up to the provincial level for developing an ANA online application.
Arbee adds: “We were then approached by the local district education office, who highly recommended the school to IMPERIAL and Ukhamba, because of its internal structures, management, governance, ANA results and whole school development. The decision was a simple one and we are proud to launch this centre today, as we believe it provides a platform for the youth to develop their skills and gives them the opportunity to move towards becoming what they dream to be in their adult years.”
In addition to the Library and Resource Centre, IMPERIAL through Active Education, teamed up to train the learners and teachers on the importance of road safety and scholar patrol, where donations of scholar patrol equipment and high-visibility bibs and caps were also made to the school.
Niki Cronje, Group Marketing at IMPERIAL concludes: “At IMPERIAL we are committed to education – uplifting people at grass root level to ensure that they can become fully functional adults. With our focus on road safety education, as well as the opening of the Library and Resource Centre, this is yet another way we are driving real change for the youth of South Africa. We look forward to taking this journey with the school as we believe these projects will make a marked change, starting today!”
