Masibambane College
Masibambane College is an Anglican Diocesan school initiated and supported by Education Africa and St John’s College, and whose construction is funded primarily by the City of Vienna.
The College is in Orange Farm, an enormous township situated about 50km south of Johannesburg in South Africa.
How the college started When Education Africa approached Walter Sisulu for his advice on where to build a new school, the late African National Congress veteran did not hesitate to suggest that it be built in Orange Farm, an informal settlement plagued at the time by massive illiteracy and unemployment. Orange Farm was once considered a dumping ground for the unwanted, poverty-stricken masses in South Africa, and is thus located in a severely impoverished environment. Thomas Zilk, from Austrian Airlines, was responsible for introducing the City of Vienna to Education Africa, and this relationship had been facilitated through Education Africa UK.
With the investment made by the City of Vienna, Education Africa was able to build Masibambane College, which has become a quality educational institution in a rapidly growing informal housing settlement. Education Africa then approached St John’s College, which was excited to come on board as a partner school to Msaibambane.
Community outreach:
The English meaning of the isiZulu name Masibambane is “let us hold
hands”. Thus, community outreach is an integral part of Masibambane College. The school takes great
pride in the many outreach programmes it has initiated and is currently running. These include:
- Adult basic education: Masibambane College runs computer classes for adults in the community.
- A feeding scheme and aftercare facility for Aids orphans and vulnerable children: supported by the learners of Masibambane College and the South African Viennese Ball, through Education Africa.
- Tebogo Home: a home in Orange Farm for mentally and physically disabled children is supported by the learners of Masibambane College, and several of Tebogo’s children attend certain classes free of charge at Masibambane College.
- The Masibambane College Teacher Development Outreach Programme: in partnership with St John’s College, the school offers weekly workshops in mathematics and science to Grade 8 and 9 educators in the Orange Farm area.
- A Teacher Resource Centre at Masibambane College: to facilitate the networking of educators and the development of their skills, particularly in mathematics, science and English. Funds are presently being sought for this programme.
- Marimba workshops for Orange Farm educators: to teach educators how to play this African musical instrument so that they, in turn, can teach their learners.
- The Masibambane College Science and Environment Centre: for the development of mathematics, technology and science educators in the community.
- The Walter Sisulu Scholarship Fund: an Education Africa project that funds the schooling of many of the learners who come from financially deprived homes and who would otherwise not be able to afford this schooling.
- A community venue: for sewing, church services, a gymnastics club and other important community functions.
- ORT South Africa’s Educator Empowerment in the Learning Area of Technology project:
ORT South Africa, through Education Africa, runs classroom-based support and workshops for educators at Masibambane College and four surrounding schools in Orange Farm. They assist educators in both learning and teaching of technology. The Viennese Ball also funds this project.
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Developmental phases of the college:
- Phase one: construction of the Vienna Centre, including a hall, four classrooms, an administration room, and kitchen and ablution facilities.
- Phase two: seven classrooms constructed together with additional ablution facilities, temporary offices and a temporary staff area.
- Phase three: seven more classrooms and additional ablution facilities are built.
- Phase four: construction of the Science Environmental Centre, including a greenhouse, completed in 2003. The funding was received through Brainbows from various Austrian businesses who attended the 2002 World Summit on Sustainable Development in Johannesburg, South Africa.
- In addition, an administration centre and two new classrooms were completed during the course of 2004, with funding from the City of Vienna.
- Phase five: 2007/8: this phase incorporates an aftercare and feeding programme, as well as a home economics classroom serving as a kitchen for Aids orphans and vulnerable children. This phase is funded by the City of Vienna and through the personal efforts of Mag. Renate Brauner, Vice-Mayor and Deputy Governor of the City of Vienna. The construction of a gatehouse and related infrastructure, as well as equipping of the school with the necessary fire safety requirements to get government approval for the high school, are underway.
Conclusion:
Far from relying solely on outside donors and assistance to build the college into what it is today, Masibambane College has established itself as a centre of educational excellence and an invaluable asset to the Orange Farm community through the commitment and hard work of the staff, and the hope and enthusiasm of the eager learners, who recognise the value of a quality education.
Today, the school provides quality education to many children and rewarding employment to many adults in the community. Masibambane College stands proudly as a true testament to what can be achieved in even the most trying circumstances when people come together with love to benefit the whole community.
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