UKZN Students Uplift Rural School

BY: .

Students from UKZN’s Ansell May Residence, together with representatives from Ubuciko The Art, the Student Christian Fellowship and the Buya Africa Student Cultural Organisation, recently spent time at Ntabinamafutha Secondary School in Ndwedwe, north of Durban, as part of their community engagement initiative.

The students, with assistance from Student Services and the University community, bought school uniforms and shoes for underprivileged pupils at the school. They also bought paint and collected shoes and clothes while stationery for learners and teachers was donated.

At the school, the students spent time painting and establishing an indigenous plants garden. Information about UKZN undergraduate programmes was also distributed.

Project Manager, Mr Knowledge Zungu, said the initiative had been a huge success.  ‘We chose this school because it is a small, poor high school surrounded by a poor rural community. We appreciate the support received from the UKZN community through giving clothes and donations. We would like to thank the office of the Executive Director: Student Services for the support provided in the form of sponsoring refreshments and also for purchasing 19 pairs of shoes for the identified pupils in the school.

‘We acknowledge financial support and stationery received from Adams Bookshop at Howard College and from WWW.CAFE and KWEZINHLE CAFÉ; also the four Colleges at UKZN for their support. We want to thank Heidi Attwood for donating the indigenous plants which were planted at the school,’ said Zungu.

‘We learned that the school does not do well academically which calls for academic support, tutoring and mentoring in Accounting, Geography, Economics, English, History, Maths Literacy and Mathematics. We call on UKZN students to volunteer with their time on Saturdays as we will be assisting the learners in these identified subjects. 

‘We need staff and students who are willing to offer transport for those tutors who will assist in the identified subjects. Anyone able to assist should contact me on e-mail: Zunguk@ukzn.ac.za or call 031-260 3278.’

School Principal, Mrs Innocentia Gumede, said the school and the pupils were left highly motivated after the visit.

‘We were very happy that students from UKZN came to our school, especially since we are in a rural area. After the visit, the children and teachers were very motivated and the excitement is still in the air.’

‘A lot of children do not go to university because they are not informed about the options they have. But now they know what steps to take, especially with regards to financial assistance. We are looking forward to learning from UKZN and hope the relationship we have started will continue to grow,’ said Gumede.

Xoliswa Zulu