- Salt River High School will debut its inaugural library as it reopens for the third term, made possible by SA Harvest and community support.
- SA Harvest, known for food rescue, renovated a disused classroom into a vibrant library space, enhancing learning opportunities for students.
- Principal Donovan Nicholas expressed gratitude for the transformation, highlighting the community effort to provide a vital resource for learners.
When the school reopens for the third term next week, learners at Salt River High School will for the first time have access to a school library.
This is thanks to efforts by the local organisation SA Harvest and other good Samaritans.
SA Harvest is a food rescue and hunger relief organisation.
Margolite Williams, procurement and partnership builder manager at SA Harvest, explains that she and her husband Brian visited the school recently and noticed that it needed some “love and care”.
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“Brian has been involved with school projects for the past 10 years. When we went to the school we were hooked and wanted to help in whatever way we could. We asked the principal what’s the first thing he would like fixed at the school and he said he would like a library. We gathered some friends and asked people to donate money and books.”
She adds that within weeks, the once unused classroom underwent a complete facelift and has now been transformed into a comfortable learning and reading environment for the learners.
“With the money that was donated, we painted and fixed up the room. We bought shelves and then unpacked all the books.”
According to Williams, the organisation now also provides meals to the school and hopes to do future projects at the school.
Needs
“This is a school that needs love and care. We are appealing to companies and people to come on board and help us. The school needs to be painted; the playground needs to improve so that different sports can be played there. These learners deserve a place to grow and thrive.”
The Angel Network, a public benefit organisation, is also involved with the school and has started an eco-club there to help it become more self-sufficient.
Principal Donovan Nicholas explains that there was a great need for a library.
“We do have a few learners who are avid readers and in many of our communities, there are no libraries. And a library is essential.”
He adds that they hope to encourage a love for books and reading among the learners.
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“The children have seen the books arriving, so in term three, we will be able to open them. We received some reading books in Afrikaans and English and we’re still awaiting some Xhosa books. We will revise a system where we can issue and retrieve reading books to the learners.”
The principal says the new space would also be utilised for meetings and as a place where learners could go and study.
Nicholas expressed his gratitude to everyone involved who brought the library to life.
They have been phenomenal in their capacity to come in every weekend to prepare the place. Brian and Margolite literally worked alone in that library and then another lady came and sorted all the books in alphabetical order. We are grateful to everyone.”
- For donations or to get involved call 079 495 4433 or email Margolite@saharvest.org
