Rotary Club comes to school’s aid

Rethabile Pitso

THE Maloti Rotary Club handed over a solar-powered borehole and ablution facilities constructed at a cost of M170 000 to St Leo Primary School in a ceremony held on Wednesday.

The handover ceremony was attended by the Rotary Club’s District Governor Bruce Steele-Gray, Rotary Club of Maloti President Retšelisitsoe Victor Lechesa, Past-President Jeff Moekoa and Assistant District Governor Mat?obane Putsoa among others.

Addressing the gathering, Mr Moekoa said the project was part of the Maloti Rotary Club’s Water and Sanitation Programme undertaken in partnership with other rotaries from Germany, Poland and France.

St Leo Primary is among five local schools that have benefitted from the M1.1 million programme along with Ntlo-Kholo, Likotsi, Makebe and Leqhetsoana.

He said the aim of the project was to promote good hygienic practices and improve access to water in schools.

“Last September, we erected toilets and a hand-washing facility at St Leo Primary School. The existing septic tank was also extended,” said Mr Moekoa.

“The other component of the project consisted of upgrading a borehole that had been manually dug up to make it suitable for solar power connection.

“Solar panels were installed to pump water into a 5 000 litre reservoir that was also provided. Three stand pipes situated near the vegetable garden, kitchen and borehole were also erected.”

He said the construction of the toilets cost M80 000, while M90 000 went to the construction of the water facility. The project, Mr Moekoa said, had alleviated the water challenges experienced during the recent drought.

“We noticed during last year’s drought this school, unlike many others, could still access water. Not only did St Leo benefit from the facility, but so did the rest of the community,” he added.

In his remarks, Mr Steele-Gray said he was happy the facilities met international rotary standards.

“This project is in keeping with rotary standards, and I want to congratulate the members for doing a good job,” he said.

“Serving humanity is our mandate, and our president made “Rotary serving humanity” as this year’s theme. With this initiative, Maloti Rotary Club has done just that.”

For her part, St Leo Deputy Principal ‘Maleloko Moshoeshoe said the project had transformed the school for the better.

“Before the project, we used to suffer immensely due to the unreliable water system, and we would often struggle to enforce good sanitation habits on the students,” she said.

“We are, therefore, grateful to Maloti Rotary Club for providing our school with the most important of needs.”