Timbavati Safari Lodge - Community involvement
 
Sihlekisi School Project

SIHLEKISI (si-lek-e-si) Primary School is situated in a rural area of the South African lowveld near the Orpen Gate into the Kruger National Park. The school is located on the western side of Sigagule village near the Timbavati Safari Lodge, on the road between Acornhoek and Orpen Gate. Sihlekisi Primary School has been adopted as a community project.

 

OUR MISSION:

To raise money for repairs and improvements to the Sihlekisi Primary School for overall benefit of learners.

 

PROJECT BACKGROUND:

Consideration was given to forming a community project that could be a partnership between Timbavati Safari Lodge, visiting guests and the nearby community of Sigagule village. The project needed to benefit as many of the people as possible. Timbavati Safari Lodge conducts a ‘village walk’ for guests to view Sigagule village, talk to the people of the village and take photos. Something needed to be returned to the community for this privilege of viewing their life styles. On the 25th July 2005 a small group of guests, who happened to be professionals in the field of education and learning, and who had requested a visit to the school.

Those inspirational guests were, Dr. Adrie Visscher, Mr. & Mrs. Mombers and sons, and Mr. & Mrs. van der Made. After watching the guests and the children and looking around the school and later chatting to the guests, the project started to take shape. Sihlekisi School is the only primary school in the area for the children of the Sigagule community and is an ideal candidate for a benefit project that will reach nearly everyone in the community. The people of the area are poor and under privileged, and most families have children at the primary school.


After watching the guests and the children and looking around the school and later chatting to the guests, the project started to take shape. Sihlekisi School is the only primary school in the area for the children of the Sigagule community and is an ideal candidate for a benefit project that will reach nearly everyone in the community. The people of the area are poor and under privileged, and most families have children at the primary school.

Then on special day, the 25th July 2005 I was accompanied 

by small group of guests, who happened to be professionals

in the field of education and learning, and who had requested

a visit to the school. Those very special guests, who inspired

this project were, Dr. Adrie Visscher, Mr. & Mrs. Mombers

and sons, and Mr. & Mrs. van der Made.

 

 

SCHOOL HISTORY

1944 - 1945 

A small school was established near the Mohlogwaneng

river, and so named the Mohlogwaneng School.

The first principal was Mrs Mhlanga.

1978 

The school moved to a place near the present day sight and became known as the Sihlekisi primary school.
Being named after Mnisi the tribal ‘nduna’ (a member of the chiefs council) who was an elder in area at that time. The school was a few traditional thatched rooms, and the nearby Lutheran church.
The principal was Mr Maake.

1979

Mr. Macson MATHEBULA became principal of the small school. It was at this time that the principal together with members of the community, and assisted by the traditional chief of the area Mr Phillip MNISI started making bricks and building the older classrooms of the present school.

1985 The Dept of Education built the six new face brick classrooms, and a large ablution block.
1994

The electoral commission built four new toilets as the school was used as a voting

station for the historical elections.


     THE SCHOOL TO-DAY – 2010

The school’s new principal is Mr NDLOVU, who has been teaching for a number of years at the school and now promoted. There are 12 teachers, 12 classrooms, and 350 children attending the school. A teacher to learner ratio is of 1:30. Grades start with grade R (aged about 5 years old) through to Grade 7 (aged about 10-13 years old).

A group of elected parents and selected teachers make up the School Governing Body representing the parents of learners. The Department of Education pays for teachers, books and chalk.

This is basic and does not cover the real needs of a rural primary school in a financially challenged rural region of South Africa, where the future of the country depends on the best possible education from grass roots. The Department of Health supplies basic food items for cooked lunches for the learners, cooked by parents.

Obectives:

Raise the level of awareness of the needs of the school and learners.

Continue to raise money for the project.
Continue to make repairs and improve appearance of buildings and grounds.
Improve water output from the borehole, supply a water tank and supply water to the toilet block.


The project is being co-ordinated by Timbavati Safari Lodge, together with the School Governing body and the Principal.



Thank you to those guests who have started this project and have made donations.

 

 

For more info please contact Timbavati Safari Lodge

Email : timbavati@mweb.co.za
Phone +27 15 7930415
Fax +27 15 7930415

PO Box 190 HOEDSPRUIT, 1380 South Africa.

 

 
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