Southernwood Primary School is proud beneficiary of the first Godfrey Hope Foundation project. Fortunate foundation phase children received a newly refurbished classroom, a party and a fun day at the movies, all kindly sponsored by Hemingways Casino.

Hemingways Casino financed the project to the tune of some R17 000, which included the upgrading of the interior structure of the Grade R classroom, repainting of the room and cupboards, providing cupboard doors, and  installing 4 new wall fans.  Hemingways also provided new carpets, desk top coverings, stationary, educational material and sports equipment.  

On the first day of the new term, the Hemingways CSI team treated the learners to a party of cakes, cool drinks and sweets to hand over the new classroom. To round off the occasion, on Friday 23 July, 41 Grade 1’s were treated to an outing to the Hemingways Movies to watch Shrek. “It was the first time some of the children had been to the movies and they had a great time,” says Belinda Mac Donald of the Hemingways team.  All children were given a kiddie combo: cool drink, popcorn and Astros.

The plight of the school was brought to the attention of the Hemingways Casino CSI team through an article in the Go and Express in April this year, citing problems ranging from running short of stationery through to bad plumbing.

Many of the children who attend the school – which was founded around 1920 -- come from difficult backgrounds, and some 50% cannot afford to pay their full school fees. “The object of the Godfrey Hope Foundation Trust is to create awareness and improve conditions of underprivileged schools right on our doorstep and to assist in supplying necessities for the schools by identifying projects and finding sponsors to fund and complete the project which will improve the environment for teaching and learning without the school receiving cash,” says Derrick Dickerson, Member of the Godfrey Hope Foundation.

This was the first major project of the Godfrey Hope Foundation.  Hemingways Casino General Manager, Mike Page says was also great to partner with the Godfrey Hope Foundation as it is through these types of partnerships that we can truly make a difference in people’s lives. 

“We are proud of our Hemingways Casino staff members who gave of their own time during the school holidays to assist with repairs and the re-organization of the classroom,” says Page. 

Last year, Hemingways Casino refurbished the Grade R classroom at Nkwezana Public School. 

 “It was great to be able to give back to the Community in this way,” says Mac Donald, “Children are our future and if we enforce the importance of education from an early age our children will grow up to be well educated and level minded individuals.”