Jane Furse Plaza gives back to community
Jane Furse
On Friday the 18th, learners at Arethabeng Primary School received gift bags and packages from Jane Furse Plaza.
The twenty seven learners, who benefited from this initiative, come from disadvantaged families.
Proud learners were lined up on a school stage during lunch time smiling when receiving gifts consisting of; school bags, school uniforms and sanitary towels.
Donation were made by Jane Furse Plaza teamed up with Express store, Touba Peace, Multi Talent, Post bank, Come to Buy, Absa, Roots butchery and Delicious Fish and Chips.
According to the centre manager at Plaza, Virginia Mashigo, 27 beneficiaries were identified by school educators.
Mashigo said these learners were the first batch to benefit from an initiated back to school campaign.
Arethabeng principal, Mashakane Mahlodi, said it was by the grace of God to receive gifts on behalf of the learners, and added that they were pleased and grateful that the centre kept to their promise.
She described the donors as “angel givers” who deserved to be celebrated as they restored dignity and instilled pride in learners from disadvantaged families.
She added that the donated gifts will encourage learners to excel in their respective classes.
“We are honoured to host this special ceremony today. Our visitors never looked down on us despite the poor state of our school. these buildings are dilapidated,” explained Mashakane.
She said the function was supposed to be held under shelter structure saying the school doesn’t have it due to limited budget they receive from the department.
Arethabeng was established back in 1973. The school enrolled 233 learners.
One of the learners from the school scored 2nd position on literature review competition held in Groblersdal recently.
Mother of two, Pretty Seopela, said, it was unfortunate because they still have learners who doesn’t have uniform at school. Pretty also thanked the gifts from the guests.
Her child was one the beneficiaries.
Speaking to the paper after the event, Mashigo said the event went successful as planned.
Plaza centre manager said she voluntarily committed herself to help vulnerable learners with school uniforms.
This year alone, she would hand over school uniforms to the three selected schools.
“Today we are here at Arethabeng donating school uniforms, sanitary towels and school bags, tomorrow we might be somewhere else, donating even bigger things than school uniform.” she explained.
Mashigo said it was very easy to identify the school as the learners roams around the Plaza daily.
Guests welcomed by the School Governing Body (SGB) chairperson Grace Kgwale who quoted a word of God from the script of Hebrew 13.
Grade 2 learners recited poems which were about covid-19 regulations.
Other learners who showed off their talent were clique of boys who entertained the attendance.
