The Rethabile Children's home was established in Klerksdorp, South Africa in 1956. Support services are rendered to 160 orphans and vulnerable children found in need of care through Children's Court Procedures, in terms of the Children's Act 38 of 2008.
The Rethabile Children's Home is partially funded by Government but largely depends on donations from the community and fundraising projects.
The Rotary Club of Orkney has identified a serious shortcoming at this facility. The children have no study hall and no access to a computer or the internet to do research for school projects. They have no desk or private place to store their books and study material.
The Rethabile Children's Home is within walking distance of a primary school - Unie Primary School. The school is situated in a disadvantaged area and it also accommodates most of the children from the orphanage at zero school fees. The school is a low graded government school and therefore only receive government subsidy to pay half of the teachers at the school, the rest of the teachers are paid by the School Governing Body which leaves no monetary reserves for repairs & maintenance, upgrading of equipment and technology etc. The school deserves and can certainly benefit from access to a brand new computer centre. The Rotary Club of Orkney has done 2 Matching Grants at this school.
The main objective of this project is to convert premises, currently used as a store room, into a study centre with desks, private storage for books and access to computers and the internet. The Paul Harris Study Centre will be used by learners and teachers from Unie Primary School during school hours and children from the Rethabile Children's Home will use the facility as a study centre after school hours.
160 orphans and vulnerable children, as well as 612 learners will benefit from this project annually, and for many years to come.
Timeline: 1 March 2019 to 31 August 2019
Total Project Budget : US$ 64 560 to be used for renovations on store room , 15 station Computer Centre, Installation of Internet connection and Training of learners and teachers.
The host Rotarians will use their business contacts and acumen to facilitate the best deals and prices in the construction process as well as in obtaining infrastructure. The host Rotarians will also use Rotarian specialist and other skilled friends to oversee construction, installation of equipment and implementation of the project. The host Rotarians will monitor and evaluate the project annually.
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