Learners from a remote rural Limpopo school who have never been exposed to technology have entered the digital world and will soon be able to network and communicate with the outside world. Siambe Primary School at Siambe village outside Sibasa received a generous donation, comprising eight computers and two printers, from a well-known hotel, the Khoroni Hotel & Casino, last week. The official hand-over took place at the school premises on Friday morning.

The principal of the school, Ms Doreen Shimange, said the school, which boasts 519 learners today, was established in 1998 with only 52 learners and only one educator, herself. Shimange said the learners at her school had not had a chance to use a computer as they had only one computer for the whole school. She said only a few of her staff were computer literate and the computers would not only help learners but would also be of help to staff members who will receive training there. With computer literacy having been introduced as a learning area for Grades 6 and 7, it has been tough for the many learners to share a single computer and the donation could not have come at a better time," she said. She said it had always been her wish for the school to get computers, but that was only a dream and it had finally been realised through the donation from Khoroni. "The Khoroni people have shown that they care about the future by investing in the young ones who are the leaders of tomorrow, and we are very thankful for that," she said.

The school also faces other challenges like overcrowding, not enough chairs in classes and not enough tables for educators. It has only two toilets for learners and educators, after a contractor vanished without completing the other toilets. There is also no admin block. "We are always in want, but the donation by Khoroni will go a long way in changing the lives of the learners and staff for the better and we really lack words to express our gratitude for what the company is doing for us," she said.

Khoroni´s Marketing Manager, Ms Zena Lamprechts, said it was a policy at her company that a certain portion of their profits be ploughed back to the local communities for development. She said her company had identified education as one of their focal areas of development as it prepared the future of the country by nurturing tomorrow´s leaders. "We believe in the future, and one way of guaranteeing our country a better future is through education," she said. She said her company had been involved in many community-driven initiatives in the past and will continue supporting such initiatives. Lamprechts urged the school to utilize the equipment to the best of their abilities.

An education department official, Mr Azwinndini Netshikhophani, a curriculum advisor in Vhembe District, said it was historic that donations of that type were still new as they are used to receiving second-hand computers which are sometimes difficult to use and maintain. He commended Khoroni for not doing what other companies are doing and for caring about the future of the learners. Netshikhophani said technology was the in thing as it was needed almost everywhere. "A lack of computer literacy today makes it very difficult for one to get a job. During all interviews candidates are asked whether they are computer literate," he said. He said the department has a programme whereby schools receive computers as a start in order to expose the learners to computers, but because of financial constraints it had not been moving fast. He said the department had offered bursaries for educators to do a full-time three- year technology course at higher institutions in an effort to address the dire need of trained educators in the field of technology. He urged communities to regard the equipment as their own property.

SGB chairperson Mr Stephen Mphoshomali could not hide his happiness. "We have long been looking for a Good Samaritan to come to our aid, without success, until Khoroni came to our rescue. We are very excited," he said. He said the computers would open a whole new world to the learners who would now be able to communicate with the outside world.

The function was characterised by traditional dances performed by learners, Khoroni staff and Siambe staff. Khoroni´s marketing manager, Zena Lamprechts, stole the show with her unique traditional tshigombela dancing skills which left all wanting for more. It was a day that no one at the school is likely to forget.