Book drive from DHL Stormers

The DHL Stormers are linking up with the South African Education Development Trust to improve access to books in schools in the South Western Districts.

With South Western Districts having recently joined the DHL Stormers franchise, the President of the Western Province Rugby Football Union Mr Thelo Wakefield consulted with the South Western Districts Rugby Union who identified Fremiersheim Primêre Skool just outside Mossel Bay as a worthy recipient.

Mr Wakefield will travel to the school on 16 June (Youth Day) along with the Manager of the South African Education Development Trust Danie van Wyk, Judge Nathan Erasmus who is a fellow WPRFU board member, and Professor Ricardo Peters from the UWC School of Business and Finance for an official handover.

Van Wyk explained that the South African Education Development Trust will be donating books to the value of R100 000 to the cause, while there will also be a contribution from HSRC Press.

“We will provide books for schools that don’t have libraries where learners do not have access to books.

“We will provide them with books that they can use at school, both for their different subjects and just to read.

“With the South Western Districts Rugby Union now in partnership with the DHL Stormers, we are identifying schools in that area to benefit from the project,” said Van Wyk.

Mr Wakefield said that the DHL Stormers and WPRFU are delighted to be able to make a meaningful difference in such an important area.

“We asked the South Western Districts Rugby Union to identify a school that does not have access to books, and we will also bear in mind the learners with special educational needs.

“They identified Fremiersheim Primêre Skool which is just outside Mossel Bay, and we are looking forward to visiting them on Youth Day and making a difference by handing over a large number of books and hopefully inspiring the learners,” he said.

Principal of Fremiersheim Primêre Skool James Speelman said that the books will certainly have a positive impact on the learners.

“We are a rural school and our learners have limited access to learning material, so this initiative from the DHL Stormers and the South African Education Development Trust is highly appreciated,” he said.