Vuyani Pre-Primary School - Gugluletu

Vuyani is in the middle of Guguletu one of the biggest townships in Cape Town. The school was built in 1961 and teaches 750 children aged between 5 and 11.

Despite the surrounding poverty, the school copes remarkably well with the lack of funds. They utilise whatever they can, the school fence is made from the old legs of desks and the atmosphere is warm and very friendly.

The headmaster of the school, Mr Nquvamba, was a pupil himself and his then headmistress is now the deputy principal. There is a huge amount of history here and what the school does have is looked after well.

Along with these strengths the school is crowded and there are obvious reminders of its position. The blackboards date from 1961 and don't work properly so the teachers use a couple of portable ones that they carry from class to class. The windows leak and need remounting and there are holes in the ceiling where looters have tried to get in to find something to steal. The children's lunch is funded by the government but the facilities are inadequate due to the stove being stolen last year. The walls and shelves are bare and books and learning aids are sparse.

The school's most pressing need is a classroom suitable for the youngest children. The children currently use a temporary hut but it leaks and is too small. There is no play area, only a sandy area, and there are not enough toilet facilities for the all the pupils.

Mr Nquvamba and his co-workers are tremendously helpful and very grateful for Tamar's involvement with the school, and they are looking forward to June as much as we are. They had been waiting for funding after approaching a South African charity a year ago through which this charity that Across the Divide approached when looking for a suitable project.