HA-MASHAMBA - Touched by the conditions of the schools in the area, American students financed renovations at Lishavhana Secondary School. The renovations were completed during the first week of March.

With this generous act, ties were again strengthened between students and staff from the New York University and the local community. The school's principal, Mr MT Mbedzi, welcomed one of the Americans to his school for a day during their visit in 2001. His hospitality was rewarded in a way he never envisaged. His school is now freshly painted and looks very neat.

"I am just thrilled with the results and hope that, in some way, the physical improvements make the experience of learning at the Lishavhana Secondary School more pleasurable," said New York-based Ms Mitalene Fletcher on seeing the photos of the renovation. Fletcher is the Program Director for the Educational Drama Center at the New York University's Creative Arts Team.

Fletcher organised a fundraiser, which was co-sponsored by Witness Tree Literary Arts Foundation, founded by Rosamund King and Madhu Kaza. The initial visit of Ms Fletcher and the group to Venda was arranged by Prof Teboho Moja and Dr Booi Themeli, South Africans residing in New York City, and her South African contact was Mr Carlton Lufuno Mukwhevo, former principal of Lishavhana and now an official of the national Department of Education: International Relations. Mr Mukwevho studied at the New York University from 1999 to 2001.

The renovation of Lishavhana was not the only good that came out of the 2001 visit by the American students. In 2002, one of them donated a computer and printer to local teachers of the Sadtu-Thsitale branch. In August 2003, another student from the group, Amy Conger, returned to the area and donated a four-in one fax/printer/scanner/modem to Raluombe Secondary School.

Fletcher plans to visit South Africa again in July and will include a visit to Lishavhana Secondary School in her itinerary.