The Elim SuperSpar donated stationery and school bags to four schools attached to the Hlanganani South Circuit of the Department of Education in the Vhembe District last Friday.

The store donated stationery to four rural schools, namely Rembuluwani Primary school at Masakona village, Vungela Primary school at Tiyani village, Rasikhuthuma Junior Primary, also at Masakona village, and Pfumelani Primary school at Olifantshoek village in the Makhado Municipality.

The stationery included books, scissors, writing pads, pencils, pens and markers. The store also donated school bags to learners at the four primary schools. According to Elim Super Spar’s store manager, Mr Henk Jacobs, the store is investing in the communities which it serves. “We wanted to get involved in education by helping underprivileged kids to have stationery at their schools. This comes after we had realised that most of the schools in the area lacked resources, so we felt that we had to assist in this regard,” he said.

He added that it was not that they had a lot of money, but rather that they at least tried to share the little they had.

Asked if donating to schools was the only project the store was involved in, Jacobs said that the store had a lot of projects and had done a lot of things for the community before. “Apart from the donations to the schools, we also sponsor soccer teams in the area. We have an annual soccer tournament through which we engage local soccer teams. We donate soccer kits, trophies and cash prizes during this event,” says Jacobs.

Learners at the four schools were over the moon when Elim Super Spar gave them quality school bags which they are going to use to carry their books. “The store has made us proud. Our books used to get wet during rainy seasons and used to be exposed to the elements during windy seasons. It is now a thing of the past and we are very happy,” said one of the learners, Tshifhiwa Mudau, a grade one learner at Rasikhuthuma Junior Primary school.

Situated in some of the most remote areas of the Makhado Municipality, the schools do not have many resources needed at primary schools. Most of the principals at the four schools outlined that there were still other challenges facing their schools, which include the lack of functional ablution facilities and the upgrading of infrastructure.

The circuit manager of Hlanganani South Circuit, Mr Mashudu Munungufhala, expressed his appreciation for the donation from Elim SuperSpar. “We are very thankful for the donation. It is good to see that businesspeople are also getting involved in education. I am sure that other local businesspeople will do the same. The department on its own cannot manage, so we encourage other stakeholders to get involved. Together we can do more,” he said