Feed the Mind Book Drive – donate before December 6
Understanding that it is the season for giving, a collective of caring Durbanites are urging the public to donate children’s books as part of an organised book drive for an amazing school located just outside KwaMashu called Quarry Heights Primary.
“After years of teaching from prefabs and containers they were built a school. And it’s beautiful. Truly. They treat it like a gift. However whilst they were built a library, complete with shelves, they were provided with no books. Today they have a few dozen books, less than 10% of the shelves are even close to full. We aim to fix this, with a little help. Welcome to our Feed the Mind Project,” explained Jonas Barausse from The Orenda Org.
The organisers have teamed up with Chicken Xpress who have pledged to feed 1067 children from Quarry Heights Primary School in Newlands East on 6 December 2018.
Founded in 2008 Quarry Heights Primary, situated near Newlands East opened its doors with one qualified educator, three volunteer educators, almost 300 children, and two converted shipping containers. In 2010 the school was declared a Section 21, Quintile three school, meaning all students attend the school free of charge. It is more than just a school, it’s a testimony to a community’s resolve to improve the lives of its children.
Despite almost no income, the school has grown into a benchmark for schools in the area with 30 qualified educators and a host of volunteers including three security guards, one administrator, one groundsman and six cooks who prepare the 1067 children with a meal every day. The meal itself is served at 9:45 am as many of the learners are likely to have gone to bed the night before on empty tummies.
Local government provided the school with physical buildings a few years ago and they were able to relocate from the containers and prefabs. The problem is, the buildings are all they received. Nowhere is this more apparent than their school library. A beautifully decorated little room complete with row upon row of wooden shelves and not enough books to fill one of them.
“Our goal is simple. On December 6 we will be descending on the school with 1067 meals from Chicken Xpress and hopefully enough books to fully stock their library, top to bottom. Happy tummies, happy minds. The meals are sorted, the books are now our objective. We welcome any book, new or used – as long as it’s age appropriate. The school runs from Grade R to Grade 7. We have a host of amazing companies acting as the drop off points to make it as easy for you as possible to get involved. They are all listed below. Pick the one closest to you and share the message far and wide. Let’s create an impact, let’s make a change. Let’s feed the minds of our next generation!” says Barausse.
“Over and above the collection of books, we had to pick our battle, and the library was just the start, but there is more to be done. If you can assist with any of the following please fill in the form below and we will get in touch: fencing – their perimeter fence stops 60m short. Let’s close the gap; veggie garden – let’s subsidise their meals with food they can grow. Computers – they were built a media centre with no computers,” says Barausse.
Drop off points are open until December 6th and include RePubliK Hillcrest; Orenda Ozone KwaMashu; Savior Café Glenwood; Skyline Coffee Roasters Morningside; Colombo Coffee and Tea in Durban North; Home Bru Graft Café in uMhlanga; Prodigy Café in Gateway; Sage Café and Deli in Ballito; Chicken Xpress in Cornubia; Phoenix; Chatsworth Montford Centre; Chatsworth Centre; Westcliff Centre, Hammarsdale and Pietermaritzburg; TheMakerSpace in Station Drive and the Perfume Garden in uMlazi MegaCity and Galleria Mall in Amanzimtoti.
For more information, contact visit their page www.orendaorg.com/feedthemind