Building the importance of education

Yet another player in South Africa’s automotive industry has recognised the importance of education, and come to the aid of a school in desperate need. Suzuki Auto South Africa, together with its advertising agency, Penquin, recently funded the construction of two classrooms at a rural school near East London in the Eastern Cape.

The Bulugha Primary School serves some 160 learners from the surrounding farms and settlements. Unfortunately, space restrictions have, until now, made it difficult for teachers to provide learners with the dedicated, grade-specific attention they need and deserve – as Grades 1 to 3 had to share a classroom, as did Grades 4 and 5.

The classrooms were built together with Bottles 2 Build Schools, an initiative aimed at addressing the shortage of school classrooms nationally. It uses an innovative eco-friendly construction method based on interlocking plastic bottles, which results in sturdy, well-insulated structures that can be erected quickly and cost-effectively.

“Assisting in relieving the plight of these learners by funding two classrooms has been a particularly satisfying experience. However, there are many other schools facing a similar shortage of facilities,” Yukio Sato, MD of Suzuki Auto SA, states.

“We would like to urge corporates seeking to support a worthy cause of national importance to consider investing in the future of the country, by helping to ensure that our learners have access to the school facilities they so urgently need,” he concludes.