Parow organisation helps Manenberg school

#SAUnite and the Western Province Preparatory School aim to raise R35 000 to build a play area at Primrose Park Primary School. Picture supplied.

A Parow organisation, #SAUnite, and the Western Province Preparatory School in Claremont are raising money to build a play area for pupils at Primrose Park Primary School in Manenberg.

The Sport for Lives crowdfunding campaign aims to raise R35 000 for the project, says #SAUnite founder Ashley Rix.

The public can donate money towards the cause for every try or goal scored by the Western Province Preparatory School (WPPS) under-9 rugby and hockey boys during their weekly fixtures.

Donations start at R20 and can be made online. To date they have collected R10 640.

“The boys love it, and our parents are excited to support this cause. People are starting to realise the impact that this initiative can have,” said Mogammad Shukr Hartzenberg, the head of social responsibility at WPPS.

“Not only is it the idea of giving and being compassionate, they are taking action in a tangible way,” he said.

The idea for the campaign came about during a summer camp hosted by #SAUnite with 60 children from Manenberg last year.

“We did not want it to end there,” said Mr Rix. “We wanted to maintain the relationship with the kids, and what better way to do so than blessing their school with a jungle gym in remembrance of #SAUnite?”

#SAUnite is a registered non-profit organisation, which was established in 2019.

“We started off assisting victims of gender-based violence. We later witnessed how hungry people were and the extreme lengths they had to go through for a bread. So we started the #SAUnite Heroes of Hope feeding kitchen where we now serve 650 people daily,” said Mr Rix.

The organisation also passes on donations of food, building materials and other necessities to fire victims.

Mr Hartzenberg, a Manenberg resident and #SAUnite volunteer, said he wanted to promote sport and a sense of wellness in young children by connecting a school in a wealthy area with one in a working-class area.

“The situation in Manenberg is quite rife. With the violence taking place, the children aren’t able to play outdoors and they feel unsafe. The school is a space where they are able to be themselves and harness their skills,” he said.

“So once this campaign is done, Primrose Park Primary School will have a play area that will provide a better education experience for the children.”

The public can visit sportforlives.org to get involved.