Foresyte Shows & Langley Equestrian Centre creates play area for local school

The fourth term has got off to a great start for the Grade R pupils attending Umthombomuhle School in the Hammarsdale area, after the establishment of an interactive play area on site, provided by funds raised by the Foresyte Shows & Langley Equestrian Centre. The handover, which took place on Tuesday 24 October, was attended by a number of sponsors involved in the generous donation.

“Foresyte Shows & Langley Equestrian Centre, along with a number of sponsors, really wanted to assist the youth from the local community and Umthombomuhle School seemed like the perfect choice,” said Grant Langley of Foresyte Shows & Langley Equestrian Centre. “A number of staff from the centre send their children to the school and it’s a really high performing educational centre, with friendly, dedicated staff. Unfortunately, it is lacking in a few facilities, which is why we stepped in.”

Langley said that, on a recent visit to Umthombomuhle School, he noticed that there was no safe play area for the younger children. The decision was then made to create a play area which included a jungle gym and swing set suited to the Grade R age group. In addition, a number of people came forward to donate books, toys and puzzles for the classroom.

School principal, Aubrey Sibonelo Khumalo, said the staff and children were very grateful for the donation which would be used by 97 pupils in Grade R, aged between four and five years.

“We really appreciate this donation because young children need to learn and develop through play activities,” said Khumalo. “As it stands, there are 97 children in one classroom with no outside area, so this will make a huge difference to their daily lives.”

The school has an enrolment of 970 pupils from Grade R to Grade 9 with anywhere from 70 to 115 learners in one classroom at a time. Situated within an expanding community, there is a massive drive for parents to enrol their children in the school, which has a great reputation. Unfortunately, there are no sports facilities available, no laboratories or library and a dire shortage of classrooms. There are also only seven toilets available for all 970 pupils.

Umthombomuhle is a no-fee paying school which means the majority of the children attending come from disadvantaged backgrounds and, for many, the unveiling of the school playground equipment will be their first glimpse of such items. “There is so much excitement for the opening of this play area,” said Khumalo. “The children cannot wait to get outside and play as children are meant to.”

The school extended its thanks to all the sponsors involved, including:
Nissan South Africa
Reonet
Langley Equestrian Centre
Ronnie Healy
Sten Muchna
Rob Martin
Sally Engelbrecht
Martyn Swanepoel
Ashley, Kim & Hilton Hausberger
The Starterpack Company
Gonda Beatrix
David Hood & Shelly Moore
Mixed group of riders
Inkdrop
Ryan Watt – Madisons Bakery
Carmen and Dean Kennedy
Ruth & Rowan Duke
Bellevue Café
The Knoop Family
Sharon Trueb
Glenda Caine

If anyone can assist the school with further donations or assistance, contact Aubrey Khumalo on 083 738 8905 or khumalosibonelo@gmail.com

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