Islamic Relief transforms dilapidated school in rural community on the south coast of KZN
Thanks to Islamic Relief South Africa, Thandokwethu Primary School now has a library which will benefit pupils there.
Image: Supplied
Thandokwethu Primary School in Dudu, a small rural community on the South Coast of KwaZulu-Natal, has undergone a major transformation thanks to a rehabilitation project by Islamic Relief South Africa (IRSA), in partnership with Islamic Relief Canada.
Attention was drawn to the school's plight by Nikaya Shaikh, a teacher. When members of IRSA visited the school, they found every single window broken; walls with such large holes that the outside could be seen, and through which rain would flood the classrooms; hazardous asbestos roofing; and absolutely no running water or sanitation.
Two years later, Thandokwethu Primary has had extensive infrastructural improvements such as the installation of vital water, sanitation and hygiene facilities; secure fencing; upgraded classroom environments; and the creation of a safe play area.
Beyond infrastructure, IRSA also invested in crucial teacher training and essential learning resources, fostering a more conducive and stimulating educational environment.
Another key component of the project was the installation of a borehole at the school, providing a sustainable source of clean water not only for the learners and staff but also for the broader Dududu community of approximately 2,000 people.
In addition, the school has received a library that was opened on Thursday May 22. The opening ceremony coincided with a visit by a group of volunteers from Islamic Relief Canada, as part of their Inspire – Volunteer Abroad programme.
The Canadian volunteers had an opportunity to witness firsthand the transformation at Thandokwethu Primary School and to engage directly with pupils, teachers and members of the community. community members.
Ngenzeni Maureen Zulu, principal of Thandokwethu Primary was full of praise for IRSA.
“There were holes in the roof, the rain would come in and children couldn’t come to school, goats would come and sleep in the open classes. We didn’t even have doors on the classrooms, we used to use an old chalkboard to close off the doorway.
Now we have a space for the kids to learn well. We are probably the only school in an area like this that has proper roofing and ceramic tiles and that has a library. This is unheard of in communities like ours. We never thought this would be possible. We can’t thank Islamic Relief enough,” said Zulu.