Humble project that’s changing lives

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Published May 19, 2015

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Some years ago I decided to do something practical about the lack of educational facilities in the Qolora area of the Eastern Cape, writes Duncan McConnachie.

I approached the headman, who allowed me the use of a mud hut in the community in which I established a library, with books, computers and internet access for use by anyone interested, free of charge.

At the time this was the only place in the area where children and adults could find a good book to read or make use of a computer and the world of information that the internet provides.

Save for one school in the area that was recently given a computer room, this remains the only place in the entire area, including numerous schools, where there is a library and access to the internet.

The above humble initiative resulted in the establishment of the Qolora Education Centre, which works with various schools and many students in the poor, rural community in providing practical educational facilities to students, as well as career guidance and advice on a range of subjects.

Today the centre is run by Theo and Debby, who, besides running the centre, where they introduce students to books and computers, teach at various schools and host volunteers, who also teach at schools in the area.

Besides teaching the centre is involved in cultural and sports activities, all in an effort to improve the quality of life of the community.

A particularly successful project has been the introduction of Rondebosch Boys’ High School, Cape Town to Isolomzi Senior Secondary School at Ncezile and Centane District, Eastern Cape.

For a couple of years Rondebosch students and teachers have been teaching at Isolomzi, providing educational information and generally interacting in a variety of ways with Isolomzi teachers and students, to the huge benefit of the students of both schools.

At present two past Rondebosch students, who taught at Isolomzi while at school, are using their gap year to be volunteer teachers at Isolomzi.

Proof of the value of the exercise is the fact that there are currently at least three recent Isolomzi matrics studying at Rhodes University.

I am not going into the details of this project at this stage, but I would like to see similar centres being established in other areas, with other privileged schools following the example of Rondebosch.

For example, a few days ago I was approached by a past student of an underprivileged school in Port Elizabeth, who expressed his desire to do something about the plight of his old school. I now intend finding a privileged school in Port Elizabeth that is willing, with the guidance of the Qolora Education Centre, to work with the underprivileged school.

The fact is that this is not an expensive exercise and experience has shown that the students and teachers of both schools derive huge benefit on both educational and social levels.

The Qolora Education Centre is certainly willing and able to facilitate such an initiative on a nationwide scale and would welcome your support.

* Duncan McConnachie is the Chairman of Qolora Education Centre NPO.

** The views expressed here are not necessarily those of Independent Media.

Cape Times

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