De Beers’ Voorspoed Mine has constructed a R3 million (US$190,000) science lab for a school in South Africa that has suffered from a lack of resources.
De Beers’ Voorspoed Mine has constructed a R3 million (US$190,000) science lab for a school in South Africa that has suffered from a lack of resources.
The mine, in Kroonstad, helped the South Africa Department of Education provide the fully equipped science laboratory, which can accommodate 35 students, at Phehellang Secondary School in Parys in the Ngwathe municipality.
It has a chemical room, gas on tap for experiments and three offices. The mine constructed the science lab from scratch as part its 2015 Social and Labour Plan commitment.
Ngwathe Mayor Joey Mochela, once a pupil at the school, told a local paper that the municipality recognised the various development initiatives being driven by the mine to empower local communities.
“Social investments play an important role in the country’s socio-economic development, thus support of the private sector is critical,” she said. And she urged the mine to continue working with government departments and municipalities to help improve people’s lives.
Voorspoed Mine’s Corporate Affairs Manager Lydia Radebe said the handover of the science laboratory was a celebration of the collaboration between the mine and the department of education in improving the quality of education in the district.
During the handover ceremony, the company also gave the students new shoes, and three 2015 top performers were given laptops. The mine engineers who attended the handover were put through their paces by the young scientists in a debate about chemical formulas.
“I am convinced that the people share our vision and desire to improve educational services,” Lydia added. “The mine’s aspiration is to turn our communities’ dreams into reality that will last forever.”
