Background of the Adelaide Tambo School for the Physically Challenged
The AdelaideTamboSchool for the Physically Challenged was established in 1980. It was previously known as JC Merkin School after Mr JC Merkin who donated two classrooms as the foundation building. In 2000, the name was changed to Adelaide Tambo, named after Dr Adelaide Tambo, wife of the former ANC President Oliver Reginald Tambo, to honour her for the role she played in the struggle against Apartheid.
The school is situated in WhiteCity, Jabavu in Soweto, Johannesburg. The township, Jabavu, is named after Dr John Ntengo Jabavu, the founder of the first AfricanUniversity in South Africa, namely FortHareUniversity in the Eastern Cape and the founder member of the Cape Native Congress. Jabavu (WhiteCity) has played an important role in the struggle against Apartheid, a role it continues to play even after the birth of democracy in SA.
AdelaideTamboSchool provides education to 380 physically challenged learners from Grade R to Grade 12 and caters for day scholars and 150 boarders. It also offers pre-vocational skills to learners who are unable to learn beyond primary school education.
The school is divided into two streams, namely academic and skills-based.
Anti-apartheid activist Thandi Shongwe knew Adelaide Tambo, who, three days before she died, mentioned that her one wish was that the school be looked after. Gift of the Givers opened its Johannesburg office in 2006. We were working with many schools but were looking to specifically adopt a school.Shortly thereafter, Thandi introduced us to the school and since 2007, Gift of the Givers, together with our donors have supported the school.What attracted us to the school is that it is a special school for physically challenged learners, the teachers and students have a spirit of positivity and we were able to incorporate our feeding scheme into the school by providing them with food for their hostel on a monthly basis.
March 2, 2009, was a turning point in our relationship, as we signed a contract for official adoption of the school.The official ‘adoption ceremony’ took place in June 2009.
Over the past two years, we have worked towards the upgrade of the school, in order to provide a positive learning and teaching environment:
On October 31, 2007 - together with Nedbank and the International Diplomatic Spouses Association, led by the president of IDSA for 2006, Mrs Lubna Ashraf - we took all the diplomat spouses for a tour of the school.We then put in playground equipment and a chess set for the playground.
In June 2008 - in partnership with Handson and TFMC - we installed taps and football poles.
We provided equipment and material for their woodwork, hairdressing, sewing and food technology departments.
We set up a clinic for them and provided medical supplies for it.
On 23 April 2010 - we provided trophies to the 9 students who graduated from the Skills Training Department.
Every winter, the children are provided with blankets during the Winter Warmth campaign.
We provided the hostel kitchen with groceries and vegetables every month.
Due to our involvement in the school, the school has become a central point for providing social services to the surrounding area, i.e. the school is used as a feeding point for our soup kitchen and used as a distribution point for blankets during the Winter Warmth campaign.
Going forward, we plan to provide the following:
Build two classrooms
Build the staff room
Upgrade the clinic
Prepare for 2010 – provide new uniforms before the World Cup
Make a new signboard
Installing a remote gate
Assist in developing the sports field
Assist with the kitchen at the hostel
Occasionally assist in providing stationery
Assist with material for stationery and carpentry classes.
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