Project People relieves heartbreak at primary school

“I can’t remember which paper it was, but there was a feature on this school – People’s Primary School in Katutura – which brought to our attention the deplorable conditions these children were living in and being educated in. I couldn’t bear it. We had to do something.” said Patricia Pickering, Marketing Manager of the Kalahari Sands Hotel and Casino
Painting the background to their concerns, she said “Education is often hailed as the saving grace of growing nations. We take care of our youth with the forethought that they will one day be in the position to take care of our country and us. With that shining beacon of hope in one’s mind, the exposed situation at People’s Primary School served as a cold contrast to the promise learning is supposed to bring.”
The article, which told the tale of the less-than-acceptable conditions these children of Namibia had to endure, tugged at the heart strings of the Kalahari Sands team. “Sometimes you see something so profound you just have to take action!” said Rudie Putter, the iconic Windhoek hotel’s General Manager.
A meeting was scheduled with the Kalahari Sands Hotel and Casino Board and Management where the logistics were laid out for what would eventually become known internally as ‘Project People’.
Project People was extended to corporates in an appeal for external financial backing and after a heart-warming response, the initiative could get underway.

On 22 April this year, during the school holidays and with much excitement in the air, Project People commenced. The initiative lasted three weeks and included repainting the dormitories, kitchen and dining area; retiling the floors, and installing new cupboards in the dormitories for the learners to use.
An internal donation was also collected from Kalahari Sands Hotel and Casino staff members who have previously expressed their sympathy with the People Project. This staff initiative managed to secure 1600 pencil cases containing a collective N$27,000 worth of stationery for the disadvantaged students. “These children are our future! Helping them does as much for them as it does for us. We are all in this together” said Chantel Philander, the Gaming Promotions Coordinator for the hotel.
Since April, life at People’s Primary has improved in leaps and bounds. “  new look is sometimes all it takes to spark a new outlook – something the students and teachers of People’s Primary School were in desperate need of.” “It’s amazing to see what can happen when people with influence actually care” said the principal of People’s Primary School.