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Image:: New classroom at Ethekwini Primary School

Cotton On Foundation delivers new classrooms for Ethekwini Primary School

25th October, 2019

The Cotton On Foundation, the philanthropic arm of Australian retailer Cotton On, has delivered on its commitment to bring quality education to South Africa. Following a R100-million investment pledge by the Foundation a year ago, Ethekwini Primary School, situated in the heart of KwaMashu, Durban, will open its doors to grade seven learners.

The Foundation has also announced a further commitment to  quality educational projects in South Africa, revealing its second local school project with Dr JL Dube High School situated in Newlands East.

“This is an incredibly exciting step in the Cotton On Foundation’s journey in South Africa. The work at Ethekwini Primary School means that children are accessing quality education and most importantly they will be able to finish their junior school learning without leaving their district.” – Tara Stretch, South Africa Manager, Cotton On Foundation.

Previously, Ethekwini Primary School  could only cater to students from Grade R to six; the work of the Foundation has created an additional 1200 education placements; the 16 new classrooms will allow learners to complete their final year of primary school before transitioning to high school. Further upgrades to the school include 37 new ablution facilities, two kitchens, a staffroom, tuckshop, two fully equipped playgrounds, as well as a new admin block for staff.

Ethekwini Primary School now offers a range of educational programmes, including teacher training, a menstrual hygiene course for girls and an eight-day nutrition workshop for community members. “The Foundation takes a holistic approach quality education; it is about more than just upgraded facilities. It requires skilled and supported staff, good nutrition and programmes that empower learners,” says Stretch.

On revealing the second local school project with Dr JL Dube High School, Stretch commented;  “Our partnership with JL Dube aims to establish a solid pathway for children to pursue further education into secondary school. Closing the loop in this way, means we are breaking down the barriers local children face in accessing sustained quality education.”

Committed to long-term, holistic, development projects, the Foundation has developed a model which delivers quality education through multi-faceted, scalable and sustainable education programmes.

With a focus on long term solutions to food security, the Foundation’s Nutrition Mission is an education-based food programme that covers basic nutrition, common health problems, hygiene, kitchen equipment and safety, as well as practical cooking lessons which include healthy recipes and cooking methods. Since its launch in 2015, the programme has seen over 2,000 graduates globally.

Aimed at empowering youth globally through the delivery of quality educational projects in South Africa, Uganda, Thailand and Australia, the Foundation works directly with communities in need. The completion of the Ethekwini Primary School project will bring the Foundation’s tally of education places globally to 10,000.