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AngloGold Fund Provides New Facilities for Klerksdorp Methodist Primary School
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| Thursday, March 11, 2004 |
The Klerkdorp Methodist Primary School*, which began as an after-care centre for disadvantaged children 17 years ago, celebrated another milestone today with the official opening of new facilities provided by the AngloGold Fund.
Built at the cost of R1.34 million, the new facilities include five classrooms with accommodation for 150 pupils, a computer centre and an administration block.
When the after-care centre was started in a private home in Klerksdorp in 1987, extra lessons were offered. Such was the success of this venture that in time it led to the establishment of a primary school on the premises of the Methodist Church in the town. Buildings belonging to the church were used until 1998 when the first three classrooms were constructed. Further classrooms were added in 2000 and 2001.
Given the rapid growth in enrolments of the last few years - from 254 pupils in 2000 to 420 this year - the school needed to expand once again and approached the AngloGold Fund for assistance.
The chairman of the AngloGold Fund, Ms Yedwa Simelane, commented: "We favour supporting projects in regions where we have operations and we have four mines in this area. This aspect alone, however, would not have guaranteed our backing. We must be satisfied that the project is viable and that it is run by people with vision and commitment. This is certainly true of the Klerksdorp Methodist Primary School and we are deeply impressed by what has been achieved."
Pupils from the school are accepted by leading high schools in the area. Apart from the academic standards it sets, the Klerksdorp Methodist Primary School encourages extra-mural activities. The school has two choirs and offers piano and flute lessons with pupils participating in Eisteddfods and other cultural events. It also boasts a chess team that competes at school and provincial level. All the children are given the opportunity to learn basic computer skills while remedial classes are available for those who struggle with competency in the English language.
School principal, Ms Elmarie Pedersen, said: "I believe that as educators we must create a safe environment for our learners in the knowledge that the education they receive will shape and mould them for their lives ahead. Our school is not about power or privilege - it's about how we empower each learner to gain a deeper understanding of the complexities of our society. It is a place that offers academic support as well as the opportunity for spiritual growth. We want our learners to be proud of who they are and to have the confidence to pursue their dreams."
* Although the school carries the word "Methodist" in its name, it should be noted that in all respects it is run completely independently of the church.
Note to editors
The AngloGold Fund
AngloGold has a long-established tradition of corporate philanthropy. Through its dedicated grant-making agency in South Africa, known as the AngloGold Fund, the company made contributions during 2003 of R15,5 million to 104 projects across southern Africa. The projects that the Fund supports fall chiefly in the education, community health, job creation, skills development and social welfare sectors.
The AngloGold Fund has a responsive philosophy to community-initiated projects, and a belief that development works best where people are empowered to work towards their own advancement and where ownership of the initiatives rests either with the individuals or with the communities responsible for those initiatives.
The Fund aims to provide constructive support for sustainable projects which contribute to the region's longer-term well-being and development. Successful projects do far more than simply identify a need - they assign resources and people to address that need. It is also important that they are rooted in the communities they serve, providing for practical interventions of a scale and at a pace that beneficiaries can absorb and utilise.
The Fund strives to be a flexible donor, responding to projects that are making a difference in all fields of development and welfare. |
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