Building classrooms for a better future

Suzuki Auto South Africa, in conjunction with its advertising agency, Penquin, recently funded the construction of two classrooms at a rural school near East London in the Eastern Cape.
The Bulugha Primary School serves some 160 learners from the surrounding farms and settlements, but as is the case with so many smaller rural schools, is seriously lacking in resources – despite the best efforts of its dedicated principal, Matthew Madwara.

While his resolve to create a school on the foundations of discipline and response is evident in the positive, willing attitude of the teachers and the learners, one of the many issues facing the school is the shortage of space.

Until recently, Grades 1 to 3 had to share a classroom, as did Grades 4 and 5, making it very difficult for teachers to provide learners with the dedicated, grade-specific attention they need and deserve.

Recognising the plight of the school, Suzuki Auto SA last year agreed to fund the construction of two additional classrooms in conjunction with Bottles 2 Build Schools, an initiative aimed at addressing the shortage of school classrooms nationally.

The classrooms are built using an innovative eco-friendly construction method based on interlocking plastic bottles, resulting in sturdy, well-insulated structures that can be erected quickly and cost-effectively.

Construction of the two classrooms at Bulugha Primary commenced in late November last year, and by mid-December, the classrooms had been completed, ready to receive the 2015 intake of learners.

The new classrooms will transform the life of the children at the school, and the ability of its teaching staff to educate them efficiently.

“Following the launch of our new, spacious and versatile Ertiga in the Eastern Cape last year, we became aware of the plight of the learners at Bulugha Primary,” says Yukio Sato, managing director of Suzuki Auto SA.

“Assisting in relieving that plight by funding two classrooms has been a particularly satisfying experience. However, there are many other schools facing a similar shortage of facilities.

“We would like to urge corporates seeking to support a worthy cause of national importance to consider investing in the future of the country by assisting in ensuring that our learners have access to the school facilities they so urgently need,” Sato concluded.