TWO Grade R classrooms constructed from two old reefer FEUs donated by Safmarine have been officially opened to accommodate 40 pre-school children
Safmarine and Capespan opens two classrooms made of old reefer FEUs
TWO Grade R classrooms constructed from two old reefer FEUs donated by Safmarine have been officially opened to accommodate 40 pre-school children in rural South Africa.
The classrooms were built for the Agter-Witzenberg farm community outside Ceres in the Western Cape, as part of an initiative to support the important role of early childhood education in rural areas.
The project started two years ago when the shipping line and fruit exporter, Capespan, a Safmarine customer for 30 years, identified the need to provide the community with a facility that would give parents working on fruit farms in the area the peace of mind that their young pre-school children were receiving the necessary educational support and care.
The containers were converted into classrooms with the help of Cool Maintenance and award-winning industrial designer and architect, Y Tsai of Tsai Design Studio.
Speaking at the handover of the classrooms, Safmarine Southern Africa cluster manager, Dirk Hoffmann, told the Agter-Witzenberg community: "Safmarine shares your passion for developing this community by investing in the education of your children and it is our honour and our privilege to contribute towards a facility which will be used to nurture young minds.
"Education is without a doubt one of the most effective ways to alleviate poverty, unemployment and achieve social and economic equity in South Africa and we encourage you to continue your commitment to educating your youth."
According to Capespan Foundation manager, Ansonette van der Merwe: "The Capespan Foundation is committed to investing in corporate social development initiatives which not only provide an environment suitable for alleviating social challenges in our communities, but which also offer solutions which integrate the needs of all community stakeholders in fruit production."
In 1992, Safmarine pioneered its award-winning "Containers in the Community" corporate social responsibility (CSR) programme involving the re-use of old containers into permanent, land-based structures. More than 8,000 have been converted since the project began two decades ago to support education, skills and community development in South Africa.
