In support of early childhood development (ECD) in schools, Sea Harvest in partnership with the Western Cape Education Department launched three pre-Grade R and Grade R classrooms in the Diazville community in Saldanha Bay for approximately 100 learners.
The Sea Harvest Foundation in conversation with its employees and local community began the task of addressing the issue of ECD and how it was being affected by overcrowding within schools in 2015. The outcome was a decision by the Sea Harvest Foundation to fund the building of additional classrooms, which resulted in a separate school on the premises of Diazville Primary.
“We are especially excited about the positive impact the school will have on the community as a result of the increased individual attention that the learners will be able to enjoy so that they can, ultimately, achieve their full potential and become valuable members of society,” said Terence Brown, Operations Director at Sea Harvest.
The building project also gave Sea Harvest the opportunity to develop a local black owned building contractor, West Coast Project Management and Investments, headed by Glenville Marinus. The school was designed to cater for its young learners with architect Heini van Niekerk adding safety features and overall finish designed to minimise injury and encourage play.
In attendance was the Executive Mayor of the Saldanha Bay municipality Marius Koen, who re-affirmed the local council’s commitment to improving access to education and ensuring that there is investment in youth as the future leaders of their community.
Our relationship with the community is based on the belief that, ‘Sea Harvest is Saldanha and Saldanha is Sea Harvest’. Efforts like these ensure that we commit to our goal of building an inclusive and prosperous community, and the school is only the start of a wonderful journey,” concluded Felix Ratheb, Chief Executive Officer of Sea Harvest.