Just in time for the commencement of the new school year, a Cape Town-based IT solutions company has donated over 20 computers to four needy schools in the Western Cape. Recognised for its continued success in the healthcare industry, NHA has now embarked on a social responsibility programme that it hopes will provide young South Africans with essential resources required for improved and effective learning.
The computers were retrieved from an NHA client who was in the process of upgrading. "The PCs were no longer feasible for our client`s needs," said Neil Harvey, Managing Director of NHA. "At the same time, they were not fit for the dirt heap. We had been looking at the possibility of a social responsibility of our own and they presented as the perfect opportunity to get it off the ground."
To ensure the computers suitable for donation to schools, NHA sought the expertise of technical specialists to inspect, bring up to specification, refurbish and warrantee the PC units, an exercise that required a financial outlay of some R20 000 on the part of NHA.
"It`s a small price to pay," continued Harvey. "Many schools can`t even afford to buy computers, let alone pay for the refurbishment of old PCs they have in their possession. These computers are now pretty much as good as new, and powerful enough to run the software our children need."
Choosing the schools to donate the computers to was a combined NHA staff decision. "We needed first-hand experience of needy schools in our communities," said Harvey. "Staff members nominated schools that they knew were not equipped with sufficient IT resources. And we made contact from there. Four schools around the Western Cape were then awarded this equipment."
Levana Primary School in Lavender Hill is now looking forward to five newly refurbished PCs. "We`re a big school of over 1 000 students and until now have only had a handful of computers and one copy of Office 97 to support them. This donation will go a long way and is greatly appreciated," said Mr Nobel, Principal of Levana Primary School.
Zanemfundo Primary School in Philippi has had no computers for student use. "We have two for administration purposes, but nothing for the education of our children," confirmed Phumlani Santashtsha, Principal of Zanemfundo Primary School. "NHA`s donation of five computers now provides our near 1 300 pupils with greater learning opportunities."
St James Primary School in Kalk Bay does have an existing computer centre though it is equipped with particularly old technology that does not support updated software and is increasingly difficult to maintain, as parts are no longer available for them. "Basically we can`t afford to just refit our computer centre with newer models," explained Mr Gordon, Principal of St James Primary School. "A donation of this nature is a very welcome and kind gesture."
The Ark at Airport Industria accommodates 600 abandoned children and receives no government funding. Boasting a recent 100% matric pass rate and only five computers in the school, Barry Abrahams, Principal of The Ark, expressed their desperate need for and appreciation of NHA`s humble donation.
"Our social responsibility programme is new and relatively small. But it`s our way of giving to the community and creating a greater interest among these children in learning and IT," said Harvey. Although a first for NHA, it has big plans for its programme and hopes to equip more schools throughout the country, throughout 2003.
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