About Hlekweni : Samathonga Primary School

With about 250 pupils, this school on Hlekweni grounds has a library, resourceful staff and came 6th in academic performance in a district of 71 primary schools in 2006 (improving on 8th in 2005).

The school receives no text or exercise books from the government, whose allocations for the school would not buy a single text book (a donation from Germany enabled the school to buy exercise books for 2004). There is also need for appropriate library books, sports, arts and crafts equipment.

A feeding scheme currently funded by British Quakers operates at the school, in response to the problem of food shortages. Funding for a new water storage tank (Sept. 2004) from came from the Leggatt Trust. A new toilet block was built at the school in November 2003, funded by Australian Quakers.

Samathonga staff and pupils

History

"When we first moved in [in 1967] we found a small community of farm workers living on the farm. They took a while to realise that they were no longer downtrodden servants but valued members of a growing community. The transformation of Anne Dube was an example to us all. With the help of Kupa Ndlovu, he of the green fingers, Roy and Irene were accepted into the local community of farm workers. At the top end of the farm [is] a shed made out of tar barrels. In it, with no furniture, some 20 children had lessons from an unqualified teacher who was paid by the parents (when they could afford to pay). Kupa called the parents together and they agreed to build a proper classroom with bricks made by Bobo and to employ a qualified teacher. So Samathonga school was born with Emily Sibanda as its first teacher." Roy Henson - 'Hlekweni: the history' from 'The Importance of People'

Feeding Scheme For over ten years Hlekweni has run a feeding scheme at Samathonga, funded by UK Quakers. Hlekweni supplemented this with 2 drip-kits and trained staff in the maintenance of the 2x100m2 plots. A variety of vegetables are grown, and it is hoped that around 2 tons of produce can be grown in 12 months. The school needs a feeding scheme because the majority of parents (over 70%) are not able to provide their children with an adequate diet. Hungry children are not avid learners. Upward of 30 children arrive at school famished on Monday mornings having had no substantial meal since the previous Friday.

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