ACE puts muscle to corporate social investment

ACE Insurance Limited (ACE) has injected financial muscle into the developmental needs of a school in Alexandra Township in what it views as a vital commitment to shape young minds and spur -on long term economic growth. With its entry into the South African market, ACE adopted Gordon Primary School - a non-fee paying school in Alexandra with more than 800 pupils from extremely underprivileged backgrounds - as its corporate social investment project.

ACE has made funds available to assist the school with a variety of essential requirements as well as investing time into becoming the school’s partner to ensure that learners are equipped with all basic needs. Gordon Primary School currently uses two campuses with its pupils split between Grades 1 to 3 and Grades 4 to 7. The two campuses that the school currently uses are a temporary arrangement as the school is waiting for the construction of the new premises to be finished sometime in 2008.

During weekends the school doubles up as a community hall which often results in the theft of chairs and desks, and even vandalism of the buildings which makes it difficult to utilise during winter.

Speaking after the handover, Brian Seach, Acting CEO of ACE South Africa said: “The annual fund of approximately R300, 000 that the government provides barely meets the fundamental needs of the school, so ACE decided to assist where possible. Some vital needs of the school include a more comprehensive feeding scheme, books for the library, stationery, recreation facilities, desks and chairs, functioning computer software that will empower both the learners and teachers, and hygienic toilet facilities.

“Investing in the education of these young minds will grow the country and in the long term spur on economic growth,” adds Seach. “We are even investigating the possibility of a long-term bursary programme.”

“We decided on partnering with a school because education is essential to the country and to the business world. The constitution entitles all children to good education and by partnering with Gordon Primary School we are aiming on easing the financial burden of running the school so the teachers and principal can concentrate on what they have already proved to be exceptional at- teaching the children.

Of critical importance however, is the development of the feeding scheme. At the moment only 300 of the 800 pupils are eligible to receive food at the school. As the majority of the children are from child-headed families due to the scourge of HIV/AIDS, a full meal is provided twice a week and on the other days the children get two slices of bread with peanut butter and juice to get them through the day.

Due to space constraints, the school also has no recreation and more importantly, play and sporting facilities, and although the principal has managed to source support from the more affluent schools in the area, transport to these schools still poses a challenge.

The relationship with ACE marks the first ever prize giving day Gordon Primary School has ever had. Principal Timothy Makhale expressed confidence that the initiative with ACE is an indication of the commitment being shown by corporates to learners and teachers alike and was particularly “overwhelmed at the efforts made by ACE in securing sponsorships for the day, and negotiating other donations with retailers in and around Gauteng.”

“ACE has a long-term commitment to Gordon Primary School,” says Seach. “We see this as a start of a sustainable partnership, and are proud of the small inroads that have been taken so far.”