Awqaf SA – an endowment-based organisation that focuses on sustainable development – and Adenco Construction, an Electrical and Contracting Company, embarked on a joint project to set up a PC lab at Dennemere Primary School.
The school is situated in Blue Downs on the economically challenged Cape Flats.
Boasting a dedicated staff of 39, and an enrolment of over 1,000 learners, the school has a proud tradition, its motto “enter to learn, leave to serve” is its welcoming sign.
The PC project was completed in April this year after Awqaf SA as part of its expanded focus on infrastructure development through its Share the Care Campaign, set up a PC Lab at Dennemere – as it has already done at educational institutions across South Africa.
Awqaf SA’s Deputy CEO Mickaeel Collier said “…the world has evolved into an online digital reality through which individuals, communities and businesses engage. Establishing PC labs at schools that do not have proper functioning access to the online world, therefore, becomes imperative for our communities.”
Adenco Construction, a privately owned company based in Blackheath – headquartered not too far from where Dennemere Primary School is situated – jointly originated this project with Awqaf SA as part of its Corporate Social Responsibility initiative to invest in the local community.
Kashif Wicomb, Adenco Construction’s CEO said, “Well rounded education prepares and equips our youth for the challenges of the real world.”
Muhammad Khalid Sayed, Shadow MEC for Education said that “This project involving NGO sector namely; Awqaf SA, the private sector, Adenco Construction, the school and the community’s involvement it represents the future the of fully developing the education sector.”
The challenge that the school faced was that 40 learners had to use one PC Lab. The Awqaf SA-Adenco Construction project assisted by supplying the school with an additional 20 computers in a separate classroom, thus helping to create an uncluttered, conducive environment for learning, and equipping learners to face the digital future with confidence.
Mrs. Leukus, Dennemere Primary’s principal stated, “Dennemere Primary school uses an online curriculum-based application supplied by Western Cape Education Department, with limited access to computers wherein learners are only being able to access the lab once every two weeks. The opening of this lab will now allow our learners to access the PC lab once a week. This will bring untold benefits to our learners and the community at large.”
The PC Lab was posthumously named after one of its progressive former principals Mr. B. A. van Wyk.