Thepanang High School's water challenge addressed
It has been about 24 years that Thepanang High School has been going without running water. The Department of Education tried several times to drill boreholes to supply water for the school, but all attempts were unsuccessful.
According to the Department of Education, every school should have a flower garden and a vegetable garden (greenery project). It has been a huge challenge for Thepanang High School to comply with the Department of Education’s rule due to lack of water in the school’s premises. The nearby dam (about a kilometre away) served as a temporary rescuer to help the school do the greenery project during rainy seasons.
Drilling of a borehole
The school sent a proposal to the Timbavati Foundation requesting for assistance with the sinking of a borehole. Their proposal was considered given the fact that water is life and for teaching and learning to go well water is needed. The joint venture to help the school took place where the German Embassy Pretoria drilled the borehole and the Timbavati Foundation installed 2 x 5000L water tanks to store water. As several dry holes were drilled inside the schoolyard, this successful borehole was drilled outside the school on the churchyard neighbouring the school.
Installation of pump and motor and water pipe
New tanks and installation for water storage
The Timbavati Foundation has done an enormous job by buying and installing new tanks for the school. The ones that were up had been vandalised and could not store water. It has been a great excitement to the lady who looks after the school’s vegetable garden as she has been relieved from pushing a wheelbarrow (with 2 x 25L water containers) a kilometre away from the school about 8 times a day. It has also been an excitement to the learners as they would no longer walk distances back home to drink water. The school management is very happy with the teaching and learning that will improve.
The lady who helps in the vegetable garden and learners fetching water
Written by: Lazaro Sibiya