Since its establishment in 2005, the Peermont Childrens Trust (PCT), one of Peermont Global’s flagship Corporate Social Investment (CSI) programmes, has been providing a safe haven for vulnerable children at after-care centres at various schools in Ekurhuleni. This year, the PCT is ramping up its commitment to these centres by renovating three of the classrooms used for the after-care facilities at two of the centres at a cost of over R130 000.
“We are putting in new vinyl tile floors, skirting boards, painting the ceilings, walls, window frames, sills, information boards and walls and also fixing light fittings and cornices where needed in all three classrooms,” says PCT Project Manager, Thomas Masango.
“The Trust has also purchased 60 much-needed new desks and 120 chairs for the classrooms.”
The Trust, supported by Emperors Palace, currently funds seven after-care facilities based at Thembimfundo Primary, Fortune Kunene, and Nageng Primary in Vosloorus, Welamlambo Primary in Tembisa, Reahile Primary in Katlehong, Khangezile in Kwa-Thema and RP Maphanzela Primary School in Thokoza, with 22 primary schools affiliated to these centres.
Two classrooms at the RP Maphanzela Primary School centre in Tokoza and one classroom at Welamlambo Primary’s centre in Tembisa will receive the new look, with Tokoza resident, Johannes Chirindza of Johannes Wood Work having already started renovations at RP Maphanzela. Contracting Chirindza for this work is part of the Trust’s objective to uplift people in the communities that fall within the Emperors Palace catchment area.
“In 2014, the Peermont Children’s Trust contracted Johannes to renovate the library at R.P Maphanzela and in 2015 another Peermont CSI initiative the Peermont Community Benefit Trust (PCBT) contracted his services again to revamp a library, this time at Welamlambo Primary in Tembisa for their annual Mandela Day activities. In the past two years the PCBT again employed Johannes to give the libraries at Gugulesizwe Primary and Ntsikana Primary in Daveyton new looks for Mandela Day,”
says Masango.
“The Trustees have been pleased with his work and thus have contracted Johannes to do the refurbishment of these three classrooms. In a further step to support small local business we purchased the desks and chairs from MB Wood and Paper in Tokoza, one of the enterprises funded by the Ekurhuleni Peermont Chambers of Commerce Trust (EPCoCT), which is another Peermont CSI programme that gives local smme’s grants,”
adds Masango.
Apart from providing about 628 learners at these centres with daily after school care in a controlled and supervised environment, the PCT also ensures learners receive well-balanced meals during the school terms, as well as food parcels for the July and December holidays. At the beginning of every new school year, the Trust also kits the youngsters out in new school outfits, including everything from new school shoes and school bags and to a Christmas party.
These centres are also financially assisted each year by the running of the Peermont Emperors Palace Charity Mile which brings 16 celebrities and 16 race horses together annually for the benefit of 16 worthy causes. The PCT also sponsors over 260 learners annually to attend extra lessons in Mathematics, English and Physical Science at three Star School sites in Springs, Vosloorus and Tembisa.
