More than 150 Volkswagen Group Africa’s (VWGA) employees and their loved-ones came together to restore and repair Swartkops Primary School in Gqeberha through an employee volunteerism programme.
Swartkops Primary School was identified after a detailed scoping exercise by the Volkswagen Community Trust. “Among five potential beneficiaries, it was clear that Swartkops Primary needed our support the most,” said Nonkqubela Maliza, VWGA Corporate and Government Affairs Director. “Education is one of the key focus areas of the Volkswagen Community Trust and for us this was an opportunity to create a lasting impact,” Maliza added.
Volunteers carried out essential work to improve the school’s infrastructure, from painting and general repairs to restoring ablution facilities, fixing broken windows and doors, and beautifying the grounds with murals and garden maintenance. This programme also included donating reading books and installing soccer and rugby poles, ensuring the children have both a safe and stimulating environment for learning and play. VWGA invested over R750 000 in the refurbishment of the school.
The volunteers also packed over 3 000 nutritional meal parcels, made possible through a continued partnership with the SPAR Distribution Centre in Perseverance, which funded the food required for the parcels in addition to the physical improvements to the school.
VWGA Managing Director and Chairperson Martina Biene was also in attendance of this initiative as she also lent a helping hand, “Our employees have chosen to give their time and energy, which, to me, is the most meaningful donation of all,” said Biene.
A brief history into the programme shows that the The VWGA Show of Hands programme started in 2011 and has since positively impacted 38 non-profit organisations and schools with over R8 million invested in an effort to uplift impoverished communities.
Founded 108 years ago, Swartkops Primary School is a quintile three, no-fee public school that currently caters to 649 learners from Grade R to Grade 7 and initiatives from Volkswagen Group South Africa help grow vital educational institution serving children from the broader Swartkops, Motherwell, KwaDwesi, Kwazakhele areas and beyond.