The once unused, box-like and dirty library is now the envy of the community and pupils in the Orange Farm area.
All this, is thanks to the Imperial and Ukhamba Communtiy Development Trust, that seeks to reinvigorate dilapidated schools to life throughout the country.
The old library contributed immeasurably to the attainment of credible reading performance scores, increased and differentiated vocabulary usage, and created an all-round confidence in English for those who used the centre and having made renovations, there would be increased productivity.
Rekgutlile is a Sotho word simply meaning ‘coming back’, and the sponsors will keep coming back.
“This is a marked improvement to the situation before the doors of the previous library were opened and we are so proud to launch a new, improved centre, as we believe that it can only grow stronger from here onwards, providing a platform for the youth to really develop their skills and giving them the opportunity to move towards becoming what they dream to be in their adult years,” says Niki Cronje, group marketing at Imperial.
Says Shayda Arbee, executive manager for the Trust: “As the age old adage affirms – success fathers many sons. The Imperial and Ukhamba Trust is especially proud to be re-launching the Rekgutlile Primary School library which we believe will not only enable larger volumes of people access to the centre but of course will continue to foster a solid learning environment for those underprivileged children who so desperately seek education.”
Four more libraries will be built or renovated in communities through the Imperial and Ukhamba Community Development Trust, later in the year.
Education being a thorny issue currently in our country, such efforts by the private sector is most welcome.
