Grade 10 and 11 students at Simon’s Town School’s Lawhill Maritime Centre in South Africa commemorate World Maritime Day – which is celebrated on 25 September - with a Lego building competition. The Maersk Line Triple E Lego models were donated by Safmarine, Lawhill’s founding sponsor.
More about the Lawhill Maritime Centre:
For the past 18 years the Lawhill Maritime Centre at Simons Town High School in South Africa has successfully increased the post-school employment prospects of its students by providing them with maritime knowledge and skills while they are at school.
Lawhill’s effectiveness in helping to address youth unemployment and poverty in South Africa has been recognised both in South Africa and internationally, with several awards including The ‘Lloyds List Salute to Youth and Training’ Award (London, 1999), the international Seatrade ‘Investment in Youth’ Award (London, 2012) and a Platinum Award from the Impumelelo Social Innovation Centre (Cape Town, 2013).
Because Lawhill receives no state funding, its students – the majority of whom come from financially-stressed homes - are reliant on bursaries provided by maritime and related industries and individuals to fund their education and boarding at Lawhill from Grade 10 - 12.
By the end of 2014, Lawhill will have three of its former students – all of whom were previously unaware of the maritime industry when they joined Lawhill – as internationally qualified shipmasters.