Menston based charity helps community rise from the ashes

A hastily arranged auction of sporting memorabilia raised the necessary funds to help out. Within days, working with William Vilakazi, Principal of Vumanhlamvu Primary School and Nick Phillips and Graham Chennells from Eshowe Rotary Club, emergency aid of food, clothing and blankets had been delivered to the community.

Orders for the materials to completely rebuild the ten properties were also placed and the local community and families themselves were soon hard at work constructing the new homes. A few months on, all the building work is now complete and the families have returned to their new homes. Again, working with William Vilakazi and the local community, the charity was also able to provide much need learning resources for the school to support literacy, numeracy, sport and other areas of the curriculum.

William Vilakazi said: “Our learners are now attending school in numbers with new clean uniforms; they also have food in their stomachs and new homes. The new educational resources have brought much excitement and will help us raise standards. The new homes have bought dignity, self-esteem and hope to both the learners and community members. We have no doubt that the performance of our learners will also increase in the classroom. Your support has made a huge difference in our community. These families have been able rebuild their homes and their lives.”

Mrs Mpungose from the local community said: “Fire destroyed my two rondavels last year full of all my clothes and those of my four grandchildren. We were sleeping in a temporary shack the past few months. I am very happy that I am now the owner of a strong proper house. My grandchildren had nothing to attend school with; they are now happily attending school with new uniforms. As a single grandmother depending on a social grant to survive to rebuild a house was very difficult for me. I would like to thank all the people from UK who contributed to this housing project for their kindness and humanity. God bless you all. Thank you Bambisanani.”

Mrs Linda added: “Fire ruined our mud rondavels and all I owned. I live with my three grandchildren, it is difficult to raise them and put food on the table. I am so out of words to express how I feel for what the Principal and the Bambisanani Partnership have done for me and other members of community who were involved in the disastrous damage caused by fire to our homes.”

Members of William’s teaching staff are delighted with new resources received.

“We would like to pass our sincere gratitude to the Bambisanani Partnership for sponsoring our school and for assisting our learners with learning materials. For us, teaching will be much easier with concrete materials,” said Miss Raisibe Kganyago (Departmental Head - Foundation Phase).

David Geldart of the Bambisanani Partnership said: “Having William on the ground working with the local community and our good friends from Eshowe Rotary Club to coordinate matters, enabled us to get this essential project delivered quickly and efficiently; we simply could not have done it without them. We could not have done it without our friends and supporters here in the UK. People showed enormous kindness and generosity with regard to our Auction and with specific donations. I cannot thank everyone concerned enough for making this happen. Yet again we have seen a tremendous Bambisanani team effort across nations and communities that has truly changed the lives of people.”