LEBO MJANGAZE
This Christmas, the Rotary Club of Arcadia is celebrating over two decades of partnership with Thoboshane Primary School, a farm school near Ducats outside East London.
This collaboration has seen the school flourish despite limited support for farm schools from the Eastern Cape department of education.
Thoboshane Primary was established in 1989 to accommodate 40 children from nearby farms.
Today, the school serves 355 pupils, many of whom are bussed in daily from Ducats township.
Over the years, the Rotary Club of Arcadia has played a pivotal role in transforming the school, ensuring it remains a beacon of hope for the community.
The partnership began with Rotary Arcadia raising funds to renovate the dilapidated school buildings.
Through donations from the Dutch relatives of a Rotary member, the club undertook essential upgrades, including repairing broken infrastructure, installing new flooring, and reintroducing electricity.
Gutters were fixed, water tanks were installed, and a vegetable garden was established to support the school’s feeding programme.
Rommy Naude, a longtime Rotarian involved in the project, highlighted the significance of their efforts:
“The beauty of the Rotary project is that the teachers and pupils now have a school building they can be proud of.
“It’s wonderful to see the school community, including parents, take ownership by contributing their efforts, like converting shacks into pleasant classrooms,” she said.
To honour this partnership, the Rotary Club will host its annual Christmas celebration at Thoboshane Primary.
The event will include short speeches, prayers, and singing and dancing performances by Thoboshane pupils, along with those from Stirling Primary School.
Each of the 355 children will receive treats, including sweets, ice cream, and fruit, handed out by Rotary members.
“It’s fulfilling to put a smile on the faces of these children, many of whom come from disadvantaged homes,” Naude said.
Thoboshane principal Ludwe Sijako expressed immense gratitude for the Rotary Club’s unwavering support.
“They have always been there for us, helping with infrastructure, donating essential equipment like a generator during load-shedding, and hosting Christmas parties every year.
“They are like our godparents, doing more for us than the department,” he said.
Sijako said the Rotary Club conducted thorough handovers to ensure continuity when board members change.
“Everything this school has today is because of Rotary Arcadia.
“We are so grateful to have them as part of our team,” he said.
