Feb 2, 2009
“Hi-tech school with mountain view for disadvantage kids”
This article, “Hi-tech school with mountain view for disadvantage kids” written by Zara Nicholson - appeared in the Saturday Weekend Argus [3 January 2009]
It is a dream come true for the disadvantaged pupils of Christel House school – they are moving from their cramped premises into a hi-tech school at a cost of millions. Christel House, a school for disadvantage children with premises in Athlone and Lansdowne, is relocationing to a brand new school next month.
The independent school was established in 2002 and along, with a huge, shiny new building, next year will also see the very first matric class at the school. So far the school’s founder Christel de Haan has invested R30 million in the new building/ De Haan sold her time-share and holiday resort business a few years ago and decided to venture into creating better education for poor children. She has opened five schools across the world, including Cape Town, as the Christel House network.
For Ashwin Schaffold, 16, from Manenberg and Nontando Bongi, 17 from Langa, two pupils from the matric class for next year, the new school is “unbelievable.” “I see this as a new beginning for me. I know this new school will bring new oppurtunities that will enrich my life. Looking at the building now, so close to being done, makes me extremely excited. I cannot wait to get started,” said Nontando.
Phouzaan Siebertz, project manager from the construction company Grand Build, said the school was a “magical school”, unlike anything the kids were used tom coming from their poverty-stricken backgrounds.
With the majority of the funds coming from De Haan, the school now needs to raise another R7 m for some finishing features. “Our goal now is to form strategic partnerships with companies in Cape Town and South Africa to complete the building of the school on time,” said Sharon Williams, director of development and marketing at the school.
An eight hectare site was given to the school on a 50-year, minimal lease agreement as its educational and social vision for the poor children inspired the City of Cape Town to help with the school’s efforts. The school building only occupies three-and-a-half hectares of the site while the rest is for a sports field, a fynbos are and a fish pond.
Christel House, which has 700 pupils, has operated from cramped premises in Athlone and Lansdowne but now there will be ample space with bigger-than-average classes. Each class will look after its own vegetable garden. Growing their own food will come in handy during meal times as a regular service at the school is providing two meals a day for each child. The school also provides the pupils’ uniforms and transport to and from the school.
The new premises boast a massive hall, a multi-media centre with computers, a library, mathematics, science and biology laboratories and dance and art studios. The multi-media hall will also operate after hours as a learning centre for the community.
The entire schooling experience will take place on the premises from Grade R to high school. The buildings for these three schooling levels runs next to each other. Each child will have a view of Table Mountain from any class in the school.
