Private school group raises funds for lab upgrade

The Sunshine Group of Schools successfully hosted its second edition of ‘The Big Walk’ on Saturday, attracting over 1 000 attendees.

The event, which was first initiated last year, aimed to raise funds to upgrade a high school lab.

During the event, pupils, parents and invited guests marched from one of the schools’ Khomasdal campus to Khomasdal Stadium.

Activities included face painting, jumping castles, football, netball, and a braai to raise funds.

Group spokesperson Florence Timotheus said the event had a positive impact on pupils, as they took ownership of it.

She said there was a need to raise funds for school laboratories as technology has become a cornerstone of education.

“Every child should be exposed to information and communication technology (ICT) tools – no child should be left behind. ICT has made pupils more interactive, and the skills obtained would be the foundation of their future,” Timotheus said.

Swart Baster entertained the crowd with a live performance.

Pupil Lucia Hamunghete said the event brings family and friends together.

“This makes me proud to be part of the school,” she says.

Another pupil, Irja Aukongo, said the event helped them relax before the end-of-year examinations commence.

“I had the opportunity to engage with my schoolmates and discover the talents of other pupils,” she said.

The head of Sunshine Private College’s commerce department, Decide Mkumba, said the event was important as it united teachers, parents, and pupils outside the classroom environment.

“This is key, and it aids parental involvement in the learning process, which will help us improve pupils’ academic performance. The event is part of the fundraising process, used for the development of the schools,” she said.