For our first project of KwaZulu-Natal, the SAME Foundation worked with a high preforming school that was identified to receive new classrooms to support their quality teaching and excellent efforts. Sibusisiwe has been recognized on various occasions for their acheivements, with being known as a “7 day school” and produces students who regularly finish with multiple distinctions. We have now completed two projects for the Sibusisiwe Comprehensive Technical High School in Umbumbulu, Durban.

Our first project was sponsored by BT South Africa. This school is an incredible example of a place where poverty and disadvantaged circumstances do not determine their future. Through their passion and hard work, this school is defined by its staff and learners. In 2018 BT recognized and selected this school to be a recipient of a new computer center. Their old laboratory could not accommodate all of the learners or give them the opportunity to use their own computer during class and examinations. While this school runs at a serious over-capacity, Sibusisiwe also did not have internet connection for their old computers. Our Foundation built the new computer center to seat 80 learners at a time, has new interactive equipment, and has internet connection. When completed by Mandela Day in 2019, the students are now able to do research and work using the internet on a regular basis.

Our Foundation started a second project at Sibusisiwe Comp Tech through the sponsorship of Philip Morris South Africa. This company identified the need at the high school for a new science laboratory. The teachers did not have a delegated space to teach science and preform science experiential classes with student experiments. Old broken equipment was piled on the sides of the previous science lab. In late 2019, we commenced the work on the new classroom, and will officially open the lab in November 2019 with Philip Morris South Africa. The new science laboratory will allow the students enough space and resources to learn science in a hands-on approach.

SAME Foundation hopes to continue our partnership with Sibusisiwe Comp Tech High School, and report on its even greater achievements after these project.