Volunteer Projects
SHILEKHISI PRIMARY SCHOOL
Shilekhisi Primary was the beneficiary of a group of volunteers organized by Westcoast Connections, based in Canada. The group consisted of twelve teenage volunteers drawn from various Jewish communities across Canada and the USA.
Volunteer with local schoolchildren
Lisa Cohen, the director of Community Service at Westcoast Connections , arranged for these volunteers to be accommodated at The Cheetah Inn. Her motto , “ Tell me and I forget; show me and I may remember; involve me and I’ll understand ” encapsulates the spirit of this group. Their involvement in upgrading the school classrooms, planting a vegetable garden and assisting in the general welfare of the schoolchildren not only brought great happiness to the Shilekhisi community but also allowed the volunteers to understand the harsh circumstances under which some of Africa’s schoolchildren live.
Saying farewell to assembled school
The supervisor/ leader of the group was Joseph Matthias who did an excellent job of arranging all the activities for the group and ensuring that a fun time was had.
Apart from doing sterling work at Shilekhisi Primary, the group was afforded some great fun : full day safaris into Kruger on open Gameviewers ; visits to Moholoholo Rehabilitation Centre as well as Jessica the Hippo; adventure activities such as White-water rafting and Quadbiking.
Principal Mathebula of Shilekhisi was extremely grateful. However there is so much more to be done :
Prioritiy needs arise from the following :
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All the classroom roofs have holes, so when it rains, schoolwork has to be abandoned.
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The kitchen consists of a shed which houses a wire grid under which a log fire is used to heat water.
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The walls in the classrooms need fixing and repainting
Volunteer group outside Sihlekisi Primary School
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