Kgotatsano Primary - Rally To Read 2012

As we approach this rural school Kgotatsano Primary, the children run to greet us as we're arriving slightly earlier than anticipated....

this school has 138 learners and 5 teachers...

the ipad effect!

We all file into one of the buildings where the presentations will be made. The ceremony is opened by Mr Mans Blouberg and the principal welcomes the guests and thanks them for bringing the equipment.

the intermediate school choir then sing a song of thanks... Its a very moving experience as they hit perfect harmony.. 

Theres allready been a vast improvment and many repairs done to the classrooms and buildings here, this being the second year of the Rallys involvement.

  Northern Cape rally co-ordinator Louise Wessels introduces the guests... including George Berends from DOE Siyanda, Councillor Ms Wetbooi, Siyanda district, Iris francis the National Rally To Read Co-ordinator then explains the purpose of the event and the equipment while passionatly drawing on her own life and events to help inspire the children.

 Like many of the children here Iris started off in life very poor indeed...never having new shoes only sisters hand me downs... Iris explains that It was through learning and hard work that she is where she is today... but in twenty years time it so easily could be one of the pupils doing her job, now that they have the right tools for learning and education in terms of achievment, the sky's the limit. 

 It was an incredible talk and captivated us all. There are some really remarkable people here...The boy you can see Iris holding in the pictures has a club foot and real problems walking... Louise the Co-ordinator of the Rally has gathered enough funding to get the poor guy the operations he needs to walk properly... 

Next we were treated to Grade R story telling, a play called My Family by Grade 1 pupils and Grade 2-3 reading a story. 

 The school choir perform a brilliant African style song in perfect harmony.....and the days events are finalised with a speech and vote of thanks from the school chairperson.

Somthing as simple as this box of pencils and pens means so much to to this lady who gave a passionate plea for continued support.

Part of this years Rally To Read scheme in this chilly part of South Africa includes a Beanie Hat for every pupil kindly donated by Idwala Mines. Theres also a bag of sweets to collect, the kids line up for a picture with beaming smiles. 

Before we go theres chance for the the sponsors to interact and chat to the pupils and say our goodbyes until next years visit. 

We head out back onto the dusty roads to our next school stopping briefly for a thirst quencher and to grab our packed lunch.... 

 By now the wind has picked up and the dust is now being blown horizontally from the road as we hit the tarmac...

 We head past factory's on the second leg of our route, There was a few scary moments on the first leg when we couldn't see the stop sign and went flying blind straight across a junction and the time when we came to an abrupt halt skidding across the sand narrowly missing a stopped vehicle in-front... least now we can see the vehicle, stop signs in front...life is good, Africa is not for wimps!