There was a joyful mood when the White/Ndwanya Memorial Foundation visited Mkhanyiseli Primary School in Nyanga last week.
The relationship between the two started in 2013 when Magurtha H. White based in the United States of America visited South Africa.
Ms White volunteered to teach English at the school class for three months. Now 11 years later, her daughter Dr Takiya White-Ndwanya is still passionate about helping the school.
“My mother fell in love with the school and asked how we could be of service to help the learners,” said Dr White-Ndwanya.
Current Principal Maxwell Funo spoke to the then principal and said that shoes and uniforms were needed by many pupils.
“So from that time, we have been donating uniforms and shoes once or twice a year depending on the need,” she said.
When the White/Ndwanya Memorial Foundation was registered in the United States (2017) and in South Africa (2019), they formalised their donations and started by adding a Jojo water tank during the drought in 2018 and providing food parcels to pupils in need during the Covid-19 pandemic.
The White/Ndwanya Memorial Foundation is in memory of Dr White-Ndwanya’s father, Donald White ,and her late husband, Mandla Andrew Ndwanya, formerly of Nyanga.
“Everything we do is to support their legacy as men who loved and supported their families and their community,” said Dr White-Ndwanya.
Mkhanyiseli Primary School’s Maxwell Funo said the partnership means a lot to the school.
“They are supporting our feeding scheme at the school. Every month we hand over groceries to 15 children through their efforts,” Mr said Funo.
Last week Dr White-Ndwanya brought along The Psi Tau Omega chapter of Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority who partnered with the foundation to support the elimination of food insecurity among pupils at Mkhanyiseli during the pandemic.
They continue work through the Childhood Hunger Initiative Power Pack (CHIPP) with monthly food parcel donations to 15 pupils at Mkhanyiseli. In 2023, they addressed menstrual hygiene/health concerns among the girl pupils.
“We have been able to speak to the girls about empowerment and about their menstrual cycle.We were able to give gift bags to 120 grade 6 and 7 learners,” she said.
The gift bags give some information about menstrual health, feminine hygiene products, a journal, mirror, and some healthy fruit and juice.
The foundation partnered with Activist Education Development Centre (AEDC) for the menstrual health/hygiene day to give language and cultural-specific messaging to girls and young women.
AEDC Tantaswa Ndlelana said they also visit other primary schools to raise awareness.
“We teach young girls about the menstrual stage, what it means, what they must do. We talk about periods and of course sex.”
SGB member Sibusisiwe Mbunge thanked the foundation for the support they bring to the school.
