Thomani Primary School at Gaba outside Thohoyandou is one of the disadvantaged rural schools. Unlike other rural schools, they have enough modern classrooms.

Most parents of learners at the school are unemployed and depend on grants. Their food was cooked in an unhygienic shed, but this could change forever. They received a fully resourced, modern kitchen this week from Game Stores in Louis Trichardt.

On Tuesday, the school was abuzz with activity, and hype and excitement prevailed during the handover of an AM lunchbox kitchen. The fully resourced kitchen is part of Game Stores´ involvement with disadvantaged schools.

Newly appointed district senior manager of the Department of Education, Mr Shumani Ravhuanzwo, and Game Makhado Manager Mr Grant Philipson officiated at the handing over of the kitchen. Phillipson said his company had embarked on a campaign to assist disadvantaged schools, responding to the plight of needy, malnourished school children. He said they had, since the launch of the campaign in 2008, donated 68 mobile kitchens to needy schools in six provinces, providing nutritious food to 57 000 learners and producing six million meals per year.

Philipson said although government was running feeding schemes for disadvantaged schools, many of those schools lacked facilities where food could be prepared. “We have come to realize that hungry learners do not concentrate in class, and receiving regular, hygienically prepared food could boost their health. In partnership with Government, we have committed ourselves to investing in the future of our country, and we will continue doing so by supporting needy schools across the country,” he said.

Vhembe education district senior manager Mr Shumani Ravhuanzwo said they welcomed partnerships such as the one displayed by Game. “We are very excited today that you are ploughing back into the neediest people, the rural communities, and this goes to show that you are committed to improving the education of our children,” he said.

The principal of the school, Ms Matodzi Mulovhedzi, said she was greatly humbled. “We lack words to thank Game. We hope that the health of our children will improve to acceptable standards from today. We have been operating in an unhealthy environment and today we are leaving all of that behind."

The local traditional leader, Chief Nthuseni Madzhuta, was equally excited. “Now that we have a modern kitchen, we request that our government expand our school. This time around, floors should go up as there is no more ground to build,” he said jokingly.

Each kitchen costs R92 000 and is fully equipped.