School helps staff, pupils and parents
AID: Portavue Primary School in Surrey Estate gives food parcels to families
A Surrey Estate school is going the extra mile to support not only its staff, but also the learners and their parents.
Portavue Primary School, where the majority of learners hail from Manenberg, Khayelitsha and Brown’s Farm, has not received any school fees since the start of the hard lockdown in March.
Despite this, the school’s been sending food parcels to needy families on a daily basis.
Principal Trevor Da Rocha says: “We have a learner population of 1151.
“We found that many households had lost income and even some children that came from more financially stable homes said ‘Sir, we haven’t eaten for days’, and that’s what shocked us.”
Da Rocha says they used their own money to help feed the learners, but also appealed for donations and many parents stepped in.
“At first we thought we could do it on our own, but it’s tough on everyone,” he says.
The palie fears he might have to let go of some staff if the school does not receive financial help soon.
Mom Kaashiefah Simons has two children at the school, and recently lost her job.
“I feel supported by the school, even though I’m sending goods in my personal capacity.
“It’s just the mere fact that it could’ve been me on the receiving end. I love the fact that it’s not just about the education, but they thought about the children and their parents.”
If you would like to assist with food donations to the school, please call Principal Trevor Da Rocha at
078 148 4073 or Shamima Lombard at
082 992 2828.
AID: Portavue Primary School in Surrey Estate gives food parcels to families