On 16 January 2014, the 34th Mandela Day container library officially opened its doors, at Ikaya Primary School in Kayamandi township in Stellenbosch, Cape Town.
Ikaya Primary School was built in 1986 – at the time the only primary school in the Kayamandi informal settlement – to educate children of the local community members, who were mostly farmers.
Over the years, as the community surrounding the school has grown, so too has the school intake, and today it hosts some 1 420 learners.
Situated on the school premises, this permanent learning facility will go a long way towards inspiring a love of reading among the school’s learners.
The Principal, Mrs Mgijima, has been a teacher at Ikaya Primary School since 1995. On 15 January 2014, she officially opened the new school year and welcomed the new intake of Grade R students, a massive group of learners that is grouped into eight classes.
One day later, she welcomed guests, learners, teachers, and representatives from 466/64 Bangles and the Franschhoek Motor Museum to the opening of the school’s container library, a facility she has great plans for.
“I have already established a library committee made up of five teachers to ensure that use of the facility is maximised,” she said.
Representatives from 466/64 Bangles and the Franschhoek Motor Museum spoke passionately about giving back to their community and how proud they were to be given the opportunity to do so.
The Circuit Manager for the Cape Winelands Education District, Mr Burger, spoke about books as tools for freedom, and about how creating opportunities and liberating people is what happens when the hands of many come together to work towards a common goal.
He thanked all involved for contributing towards the library, giving special mention to Rotary International in Bedfordview, Johannesburg and Pinelands, Durban that together contributed 1 500 books.
After the library was officially opened, guests, learners and teachers celebrated together – the school choir sang, members of the school’s Soul Buddyz club danced and teachers joined in.