VWSA gives youth a lift
Learners from the Masifunde Learner Development project, in the Walmer Township of Port Elizabeth, will now be travelling safely to and from school and extra-curricular activities, thanks to Volkswagen Group South Africa (VWSA).
VWSA sponsored a much-needed 23-seater Volkswagen Crafter to help the Masifunde team provide underprivileged children with a good education.
“Education is one of our key focus areas for our multi-faceted Corporate Social Investment programme,” says David Powels, managing director of VWSA. “The Masifunde Learner Development Project adds to the portfolio of educational projects – such as Edu-Peg, Ikhwezi Lomso Primary School, Nal’iBali and the Adopt-a-School Project – that Volkswagen is supporting.”
The Masifunde Learner Development project was established in 2004 by German-born Jonas Schumacher. It aims to alleviate poverty by initiating sustainable development through holistic quality education.
The project’s main initiative is the sponsorship of full academic bursaries for 46 children from Grade R to Grade 12. “We have identified children from Walmer Township, who are motivated and talented, and have offered them the opportunity to receive a top-quality education at excellent schools in Port Elizabeth,” says Schumacher.
Along with sponsoring the children’s education, the project also offers them daily homework support monitored by two professional and experienced teachers. Through Masifunde the children are also given the opportunity to explore and nurture their talents in the fields of art, music, media and sports.
“I would sincerely like to thank VWSA for the vehicle sponsorship. It has allowed us to finally provide our learners with reliable and safe transport to and from school and the various extramural activities,” adds Schumacher.