SAINT-GOBAIN SA COMMITS TO LONG TERM INVESTMENT IN MVELAPHANDA PRIMARY SCHOOL IN TEMBISA

Saint-Gobain South Africa, through the assistance of the Saint-Gobain Foundation have undertaken a 5-year long-term project with the Mvelaphanda Primary School in Tembisa. This project aims to provide functional and modern school facilities that will promote quality teaching and learning, and also protect the right to education for every learner. 

“In collaboration with our partners YouthBuild SA, we have taken on a 5-year project plan to renovate critical areas of Mvelaphanda Primary School,” says CSI Manager, Prithi Chetty.  “Additionally, we have established dedicated teams that will roll out a number of initiatives that will support the project plan. These teams will be led by the Saint-Gobain employees and their support systems.”

By 2025 Saint-Gobain South Africa aims to have established the following at the school; provided a new and refurbished library, planted edible gardens, modernised classrooms for optimal learning, invested and upgraded the kitchen, playgrounds and school security, set up computer labs and established Career Days at the school with key leading organisations. 

Each of these projects are set to contribute towards enhancing the school’s environment while ensuring that the learners are afforded the opportunity to achieve their full potential. Additionally, Saint-Gobain South Africa employees will be given an opportunity to lend a hand along this journey to make the world a better home.

“I am happy to say that Saint-Gobain SA has previously invested in Mvelaphanda Primary School for a number of years with annual activities such as Mandela Month initiatives, investing in ablution facilities & the donation of building materials in the building of 3 Classrooms. We have established a great relationship with the school and its community and we look forward to the next five years, said Jean-Claude Lasserre, CEO of Saint-Gobain Africa. 

A small opening ceremony took place at the school on 15 April 2021, where the French Ambassador (HE) His Excellency Aurelien Lechevallier, joined representatives from Saint-Gobain SA, YouthBuild SA and the Department of Basic Education. 

His Excellency expressed his delight and honour to share in such a special project aimed at building success for the learners of Mvelaphanda. “On behalf of the French Embassy, I would like to commend and congratulate everyone for the commitment and for this close partnership that has brought us here this morning. It is extremely important to create a good environment for our learners to realise their full potential and have access to quality education, said the Ambassador.