Chronicle
24 September 2010
By Chronicle Correspondent
Pretoria Portland Cement (PPC) yesterday donated textbooks and 600 chairs worth more than US$100 000 to Portland Primary, Colleen Bawn Primary and High schools.
Portland Primary received 129 chairs while Colleen Bawn Primary received 248 chairs and 215 chairs were handed over to Colleen Bawn High School.
Handing over the textbooks and chairs at a ceremony at Colleen Bawn High School in Gwanda, the PPC Zimbabwe chairman, Mr Harley Dent, said the company was showing commitment to the communities it operated in by donating much needed furniture to schools surrounding their operations in Zimbabwe.
“PPC believes that the various donations made to these schools will not only enhance the school environment for learners but also for educators. In the long run we aim to inspire and motivate students to work hard and produce results that enable them to further their studies at tertiary level,†said Mr Harley.
He said the donation was part of PPC’s corporate social investment programme and the company had over the past 18 months invested about R700 000 in various projects around Zimbabwe.
Mr Harley said by continuing to invest in such a responsible way, PPC sought to contribute towards thriving and sustainable communities.
The company has previously donated stationery and textbooks so that learners at these schools would be able to attend class in fully equipped classrooms.
“Our commitment to helping the communities in the areas that we operate in is an alignment to our real philosophy. This philosophy looks at supporting projects that are relevant to the community, empower the people and are lasting. The focus is on sustainability,†he added.
The company is dedicated to investing in schools in a holistic manner so that a conducive learning environment is established and maintained, he added.
Mr Harley said that empowering children in education meant the empowerment of the nation as a whole.
PPC is the biggest cement producer in Southern Africa with seven cement plants in South Africa, one in Botswana and another in Zimbabwe.
Among the dignitaries who attended the hand- over ceremony was the Minister of Education, Sport, Arts and Culture, Senator David Coltart, and Matabeleland South Provincial Governor, Angeline Masuku.