The library initiative is one of several social responsibility activities undertaken by Hyundai Automotive SA, which includes participation in the entrepreneurship development programme of The Hope Factory.
The library at the Southview High School was opened by Barbara Creecy, MEC for Education in Gauteng, and J.H. Hwang, head of commercial vehicles at Hyundai Motor Company’s African and Middle East, at the school’s headquarters.
The new library, fitted with new desks and chairs and populated with about 4 500 books as well as computers, is an initiative of Hyundai Automotive South Africa and the Imperial and Ukhamba Community Development Trust.
A delighted Mr Naidoo, principal of Southview High School, said he could never in his wildest dreams imagine that their public request for assistance would culminate in the establishment of the new library, with about 4 500 books, in a period of only 6 weeks.
“We trust that this library would stimulate a desire to learn with our children and would lead to an improved literacy level among our learners,” said Naidoo.
The Southview High School, situated in Lenasia, southwest of Johannesburg, has about 1 800 learners and was identified by Hyundai Automotive SA as a well-run, most suitable school to establish such a library.
Stanley Anderson, marketing director of Hyundai Automotive SA, said his company was proud to contribute to the education of learners at Southview High.
“However, the establishment of this library is only part of the recipe for successful education. It is also important for you to have a vision, a goal that you want to achieve in life through your education at this school,” said Anderson to the enthusiastic grade 8 learners who attended the ceremony.
The library programme started after a lack of reading and comprehension skills was identified when the Trust adopted their first school in 2005 as part of an interventions strategy.
This led to, inter alia, the provision of resources such as textbooks, stationary charts, and establishing fully resourced libraries with a wide range of books and audiovisual aids.
