Fundraiser aims at saving school

CHILDREN'S laughter at a community school in Port Elizabeth's Walmer township could soon be silenced as funds for its day-to-day running have dried up.

The Human Dignity Centre in Victoria Drive, founded in 2005, has been a haven for hundreds of children from the area whose parents cannot afford school fees, books or food for their offspring.

Staff are at their wits' end as they may have to close the centre's doors at the end of the year.

But good Samaritans might be able to do a miracle.

When the centre's founders sent out a letter explaining their crisis three weeks ago, Bay charities – including Bay Language Institute director Shaun Fitzhenry and some former students – came up with a plan.

They hope to save the education and wellbeing of the centre's 131 children by hosting a major fundraising event next month.

Fitzhenry said: "[My] students doing Teaching English as a Foreign Language (tefl) have been involved with the centre for about two years.

"When I heard the news, I thought: 'This cannot happen. How can a school doing such good work in [these children's] lives close down?'" Fitzhenry said.

Joining him are former TEFL student Bantu Mtshiselwa and his peers.

"Our plan is to put on a massive music show, showcasing [Bay] artists, and incorporate it with a family day for the entire Bay."

Feeding and teaching the pupils and covering day- to-day costs runs to R60000 a month. - Alvené du Plessis