By Lesedi Sibiya-Diplomatic Insider
Kaalfontein Primary School, celebrated an immense win on Tuesday when they hosted the grand opening of their new library graciously funded by the Time to Care organisation in conjunction with Time to Help who are based in the Netherlands and the Horizon Educational Trust.
In attendance were stakeholders in this initiative such as the Johannesburg Metro Police Department (JMPD), South African Police Service (SAPS), socio-economic development organisation the 1818 Group and Rand Water. Kaalfontein Primary School is an institution that was started as a community driven project with the purpose of establishing a centre for learning as Kaalfontein was a newly established settlement at the time of the school’s inception in 2000.
The Department of Basic Education, had provided the school with 21 mobile classrooms which is still being utilised to this day, after the school was operating outside of RDP houses that were not in use.
Since its inception the school had been without a library which the learners could have used to enrich their minds and inspire learning, until founder of Time to Care, Huseyin Kublay decided to put the initiative of funding this library and donating books in collaboration with Time to Help.
“A library is far more than a building filled with books, it is a living,breathing hub of ideas and a safe space for curiosity,” said Kaalfontein headmaster, Emmanuel Mohale. “Today we are not only cutting a ribbon but also opening a door to imagination, opportunities and a brighter future for the learners of Kaalfontein Primary School” said Mohale.
“I hope we are going to use this library effectively and efficiently and we will take care of it,” he added further. The Deputy Junior Provincial Commissioner, Tamia Mpala, spoke passionately about the learners needing to occupy their minds less with violence and shenanigans after school and rather use their time to enrich their minds within the library.
“We have to ensure that this library is being utilised, these books carry knowledge that can take our young minds far. But then if these books are not being utilised, how is this knowledge going to be equipped in them?” said Mpala.
“It can be great to save the young minds of our people…we find our young minds, our young learners after school going outside, picking fights and this mentality is only there because they are not occupied.” Mpala said further.
Representative from the City of Johannesburg (COJ), Precious Motiwe, gave encouraging words of advice for the learners who will be utilising the library facility
“This is a life changing opportunity for the school in particular, especially understanding the status quo of this area in Johannesburg” she said. Motiwe also highlighted that this will also inspire a new desire within the students to read books as she emphasised that not every learner will have the eagerness to enjoy books and shared her own experiences growing up.
“Growing up, I was not really obsessed with books and I’m hoping today I would appeal to young people who find it challenging because of material conditions.” she continued to add.
The Director General of the Horizon Educational Trust, Isak Turan, had addressed the programme highlighting the importance of education being a cornerstone for the growth of the next generation.
“Education is one of the greatest gifts we can give to our young people, and the library opens the door to knowledge and imagination, creativity and opportunity,” said Turan.
