African Angels Primary School - Where Education Makes a Difference.

African Angels Independent School – A Story Where Hope Meets Opportunity.

In the South Africa human landscape there are, just like in many countries in the world, those who live comfortable lives and those who just battle to survive. This is the reality of life and as one travels around the country this becomes obvious. The history of South Africa is in many ways a story of survival of many different groups of people who often suffered hardship in a physical and human environment that can be harsh at times and pleasant at other times. Wars were waged and oppression of groups took place. Many people today live in comfort, while many find life a huge challenge. Inequality exists at many levels and since the formation of a new “rainbow” nation in 1994, a lot has changed, but there is still a lot to be done. The challenge to change this human landscape is enormous and so most people consider it to be a challenge beyond their means to change or even to try to do so.

Obviously education is an important means to lift individuals out of poverty into a life of opportunity. A visit to a well equipped school in a suburban area is a very different experience to a visit to a struggling school is some rural “township”. What has always amazed me it that many have overcome this great disadvantage to reach great heights, but that is the exception rather than the rule. One lady from Australia on a visit to South Africa about 15 years ago, saw this problem and decided to do something about it! Lou Billett visited the beautiful coastal resorts of Chintsa and Glen Eden just north of East London and became aware of the problem and decided to try and change the situation at least for a few children.

Her first effort was to provide children from the poor townships in the area with an opportunity to attend one of the “better” schools in East London. Obviously their parents did not have the means to send their children to the more expensive schools in town and so Lou raised money to make it possible for some to do so with some success. But then an opportunity arose to acquire an old rundown church development in the Chintsa area for redeveloping into a local educational facility – a school for children from the area around Chintsa and Glen Eden to have a well organized and equipped school. The church that owned the property no longer used the property and so after leasing it at a nominal rate for a while it graciously donated it to Lou for the development of a school. So a large area of coastal land with some dilapidated buildings began to take on a new shape.

One of the things that Lou is very good at is raising funds. It is wonderful to have an idea but to find the money to change it from a dream into reality is another thing. Fortunately, using all her skill, Lou found several people and organizations that were willing to assist. The largest by far is the local motorcar manufacturer in East London, Mercedes Benz. So the challenge of organizing teachers, rehabilitating buildings and obtaining equipment began. After 10 years the road along the main coastal road between East London and Chintsa now has a turnoff with a sign board advertising “African Angels an Independent Primary School”.

A visit to the campus is a moving experience with its several well equipped classrooms, offices, boarding accommodation for children and some of the teachers, a kitchen and dining room, a school hall, a library, a shop and a well equipped playground and a sports field. Lou has dedicated helpers who work in all areas including construction, cooking, cleaning and obviously teaching. There is still a lot of work to be done but at present the children are being prepared for the next step in their education. At the same time many work opportunities are being provided locally. Some of the students have moved on to excellent secondary schools on scholarships.

What is concerning is the ongoing news that Mercedes Benz may be planning to close its manufacturing plant in East London, due to the present economic conditions in the world and not helped by Trump’s tariff threats. What the future holds no one knows but at present watching a young pupil reading to the class and seeing the smiles of the many young people in and out of the classroom is evidence of a future that looms up with promise and hope. What more can one dream about!