Chinese automotive company, First Automotive Works (FAW), launched its Port Elizabeth plant in Zone 2 of the Coega Development Corporation (CDC) on 10 July
Pupils in and around Nelson Mandela Bay in Port Elizabeth will receive much-needed school uniforms after Chinese automotive company, First Automotive Works (FAW), donated R200 000 to their schools on 31 July 2014.
Around 300 pupils from Fumisikoma Primary, Melisizwe Primary, Imbasa Primary, Empumalanga Primary, Mdengentonga Primary, and Coega Primary School in Wells Estate will benefit from the donation.
Xolile Mpati, principal at Coega Primary School, said, “Some of the children come to school without shoes, torn uniforms or no jerseys.”
Mpati said that while the uniforms will benefit the pupils, the investment will also provide some relief for their parents.
Mpati added that “The children who were identified are those who are desperately in need of school uniforms. Most of the learners have to walk 20km to school and most people from the area are unemployed.
“We are very excited about the donation and are grateful to FAW.”
Mluleki Mayekiso, principal at Imbasa Primary School, said there are 1 722 children at the school in Motherwell; more than 80% of their parents are unemployed.
“An opportunity like this only comes along once in a while and when it does you grab it with open arms,” Mayekiso said.
“Some of the children wear torn jerseys to school, or have one shirt or a pair of trousers which they wear for the week. The children were identified by the class teachers as those who are in desperate need of uniforms.”
Principal at Fumisikoma Primary School, Ntsikelelo Vena, said the school highly appreciated the donation.
She said, “The poorest of the poor were identified for the donation. Some of the children do not have school uniforms, others wear torn uniforms.”
Vena added that the new school uniforms will boost the children’s morale and help them feel like they’re part of a collective.
“Now that they will look like their fellow classmates it could have a positive effect on their school work.”
Nomathamsanqa George, deputy principal at Melisizwe Primary School said, “This donation means so much to us. Our children are from very poor communities.
“The area is in dire need of assistance and the school further needs help with renovating the building as well.”
