Mpepule finally installs its new library

The library has finally been installed!   After a few months of red tape, the new library building was erected on the school grounds, just in time for the holidays.   After liaisons with the local Department of Education it was decided that instead of building a permanent structure the school would purchase a “mobile classroom”.  Due to recent policy changes within the Education Department, many smaller schools are being amalgamated with other schools in the area.  Although at present there is no indication that Mpepule will be merged with another school, Principal Doris was insistent that no matter if the school moves or stays, the library will remain with the children that need it the most -forward thinking for the youth of our country.

 

The school has already started a book collection to stock the library and have received some lovely donations thus far. We wish Mpepule Primary all the best for a very bright future.

Borehole for Mpepule Completed!

I have some wonderful news and then some more wonderful news; firstly Mpepule Primary has had a borehole drilled by the local Department of Education. It seems as if Principal Doris Lekgothoa’s persistence in seeking the best for her school has finally paid off. We believe the department’s sudden change of heart has also been brought about by our request for support on betterplace.org.

Secondly, Mpepule’s project on Maruala Trees (an indigenous tree with a variety of uses) has been showcased in the International Eco-Schools Newsletter in an article entitled Mpepule’s Magical Marulas.

The borehole was drilled a few weeks ago and the school is very excited at the prospect of easily accessible water on the school grounds. As a result this need for Mpepule has been completed. But, don’t think that is stopping Principal Lekgothoa’s mission to improve her school and enrich the lives of her learners.

She now wishes to create a small library for the learners to improve both their reading skills and knowledge during their free time. Literacy levels in the Limpopo Province are very poor at many of the schools and I feel that this will be a superb way of increasing both reading levels and a passion for reading. The vision is that the funds will go towards building a comfortable space, for both storing books and also to provide learners a quiet space to read. We will create that “need” on our project on betterplace.

A great start to 2009

After receiving their Green Flag award for environmental excellence for the third year running, Mpepule couldn’t have been happier, but then things were to get even better. At the Eco-school Flag ceremony, held on Friday the 23rd January 2009, Mpepule educator Doris Lekgothoane received a special award for teachers who have made a significant contribution to Eco-schools work. This is an excellent achievement for a devoted teacher. As only a few select teachers from all the Eco-schools country-wide were selected for this honour, we can be especially proud of Doris. I am sure that she will be keeping up the excellent work in 2009.

Second place for Mpepule Primary !

After a very long day on the 28 October 2008, struggling with transport troubles (they were left behind by the arranged transport), four children from Mpepule Primary finally reached Lephalale Town to present their work for the ESKOM Lephalale Schools Environmental Competition. It was a day of very stiff competition, 28 wonderful schools took part. The competition is aimed at looking at how schools manage an environmental issue in their communities. Mpepule chose the topic of land management with a focus on improving soil erosion through better gardening techniques. The school grows its own vegetables to feed the children and their project showed how the learners use techniques such as mulching, drip irrigation and crop rotation to keep the soil healthy. The competition consists of two components - a written file and a spoken presentation by the learners involved in the project. Mpepule Primary did incredibly well and managed 2nd place out of 15 schools in their category. Some pictures from the competition will follow as soon as I have received them from the school. Next week it is the assessment of Mpepule’s Eco-schools portfolio so keep your fingers crossed.

Mpepule Learners visit the Lapalala Wilderness Sch

The children of Mpepule visited Lapalala Wilderness School (LWS) toward the end of September. It was a special visit for everyone, as not only did the children have a heaps of fun learning about the environment, but were also filmed for a possible TV programme and photographed for a magazine article on the Lapalala. Hopefully this exposure will draw further support for this amazing school.

During their visit to Lapalala, the children learned about a number of environmental issues including general ecology, soil erosion and even visited some local Bushmen paintings to learn about our magnificent natural heritage. The children also got up close and personal handling some of the LWS snakes, scorpions and spiders. This is always a popular part of our camps and the children were very brave, overcoming fear and superstition to get to know about these unfairly disliked animals. The children have undertaken not to kill any animals in their homes and school, no matter how afraid they are of them, and will instead try and learn more about these beautiful creatures. We hope that this message of living in harmony with other creatures will spread to other communities.

The staff at LWS were also privileged to watch a concert that the children had created in honour of their visit. The dancing was excellent and many a laugh was shared, especially when some of the younger learners provided some impromptu additions during the dancing.

September has been a busy month for Mpepule as in addition to all their normal school work they have entered two environmental competitions. The first, the Eco-schools project, Mpepule is aiming for their 3rd year of Green Flag status. The second is a local competition called the Lephelale Schools Environmental Competition. Mpepule earned a well deserved 2nd in last years competition so we are hoping for the number one position in 2008. We wish them the best of luck.

Umweltschützer der Zukunft

Die Kinder und Lehrer von Mpepule sind so gespannt das sie bald Wasser haben werden, das sie bereits planen den Gemüsegarten zu vergrößern um mehr gesunde Ernährung für alle Kinder zu haben (wobei ich persönlich fast denke die Kinder sind vor allem so aufgeregt, da sie ein Karussel bekommen werden!).

Zudem versucht die Schule ihren Abfall zu reduzieren - ein weltweite Herausforderung. Mpepule macht bereits Kompost aus allen organischen Abfällen und mittlerweile recyclen sie auch nicht-organische Abfälle. Das ist natürlich etwas schwieriger da sie viele Kilometer von der nächsten Stadt entfernt sind und kaum Transportmöglichkeiten haben. Kreative Ideen waren gefragt jetzt  recyclen die Kinder der Schule Papier und Dosen. Papier was im Unterricht verwendet wurde wird nicht mehr weggeworfen, sondern zusammen mit Naturmaterialien, wie trockenen Blättern gehächselt  und dann zu Papier Geschenkkarten  verarbeitet. Diese schönen Karten werden dann verkauft als zusätzliche Einnahme um die Unkosten der Schule zu decken. Dosen werden jetzt als Blumenbeetsbegrenzung verwendet um etwas mehr Farbe auf den sehr trockenen Schulhof zu bringen. Das nächste anstehende Projekt ist das recyclen von Glass, doch ich bin sicher das die Kinder ähnlich innovative Ideen haben werden um alte Glassflaschen wieder zu verwenden.

Eine traurige Nachricht zum Schluß. Unser schwarzes Nashornwaise Moêng, was Clive and Conita Walker gehörte und von tausenden von Kindern geliebt wurde, da sie es füttern und anfassen konnten, wurde wegen seines Horns von Wilderern umgebracht.  Alle unsere Schulen sind sehr traurig, besonders die Kinder von Mpepule, da sie nächste Woche in der Lapalala Wildniss Schule sind und auch Moêng besuchen wollten. Man kann nur hoffen das die jungen Menschen die in Zukunft aus den umweltbewussten Schulen wie Mpepule kommen, sich aktiv gegen tragische Ereignisse wie  den Tot von Moêng einsetzen werden.

Conservation Champions of the Future

The children and teachers of Mpepule are so excited at the prospect of water in the school grounds (although I personally think the children are more excited at the prospect of a roundabout to play on) that they are already making plans to extend their vegetable garden to ensure more healthy vegetables for all the children.  Thank you to all who have already offered sponsorship.

 

Additionally the school has been looking into ways it can help reduce the amount of waste it produces, a global environmental issue.    The school already composts all organic waste and have recently looked towards “recycling” inorganic waste. This is somewhat more difficult undertaking when you are many kilometers from the nearest city and lack transport.  Creative thinking was needed and the children from Mpepule now recycle both paper and tins.  Paper used during school hours is no longer thrown away and is instead shredded, mixed with a variety of goodies (like dried leaves) and remade into paper gift cards.  The school hopes to sell these beautiful cards to raise additional funds.  Tins and cans are now used to line flower beds, bringing a splash of colour to a very dry school yard. The next project to tackle is recycling of glass, but I am sure that the children will come up with an equally innovative way to re-use old glass bottles.

 

On a sadder note, the beautiful orphaned black rhino, Moêng, owned by Clive and Conita Walker and loved by thousands of children who were able to feed and touch her was ruthlessly killed for her horn last week.  All our schools are incredibly saddened at this loss, especially the Mpepule children, who were due to visit her next week during their stay at Lapalala Wilderness School.  One can only hope that leaders that emerge through environmentally conscious schools like Mpepule will take steps towards preventing tragic events like Moêng’s death in the future.