Maropeng and Discovery bring Christmas to Maloney’s Eye Primary School

December 12, 2011 – Mildred Thabane

Laughter and games are what every child wishes for and with the help of Maropeng, learners at Maloney’s Eye Primary School got to enjoy all this and more. Spoilt beyond their dreams by the medical aid and financial services institution, Discovery, the children were surprised with sweets, Hula Hoops and soccer balls.

Lebo Green, a teacher at the school, says the children enjoyed every minute, “The planning was superb and the exposure that Maropeng has given the school has helped. It has really uplifted the morale of the staff and the learners. This fun day at school will be the only Christmas that some of these learners experience.”

The day started at 09h30, when the children received a packet of sweets from a Discovery staff member. “What was special for me was that Discovery really made an effort,” says Magel van de Venter, education and marketing executive at Maropeng. “As the members gave a packet of sweets to each child, they engaged with the child and got to know each face and name, and it gave meaning to the gifts.”

Lunch of hotdogs and cooldrinks was supplied by Big Time Liquors. Chico da Cunha from Big Time Liquors says, “Seeing the children so happy was great! It’s wonderful that Maropeng brought some of their suppliers on board with this project; it really was a privilege.

“We’ll be giving the school a collage of all the pictures taken at the Christmas fun day as a gift,” Van de Venter added.

Earlier this year, Discovery decided to adopt Maloney’s Eye Primary School as part of its corporate social investment (CSI) initiative. Van de Venter introduced the rural primary school to Discovery during a site visit. The school was established in the 1950s, and taken over by new principal, Christine Masibi, in 1995.

Michelle Jansen from Discovery, who organised the fun day at Maloney’s Eye Primary School, says their efforts at the school were not just for the day, but for the future. “Discovery started a vegetable garden earlier this year and we’re looking at getting more land for a bigger garden to feed even more families. Discovery’s CSI projects focus on empowerment and creating sustainable programmes that can continue long after Discovery has left.”

The CSI initiative included four visits by the Discovery team to Maloney’s Eye Primary School. In the first quarter of the year, Discovery supplied food packets consisting of more than 1 800kg of mealie meal and tinned food and helped to plant a vegetable garden at the school. During their second visit, the team gave the children soccer balls and repainted the netball court, while the third visit saw the school’s name painted on the outside wall, and fruit trees planted.

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