Gratitude

Thank you

In Africa it is said it takes a village to raise a child. But for us it takes the world! Milestones such as the construction and running of a quality education facility in a previously disadvantaged area cannot be reached without significant commitments from many. We thank some contributors and apologise for any parties not mentioned. It is not from ingratitude but rather the overwhelming impact this support has on us.

Thank you to Sentinel Primary School’s principal, Mrs Claudene Overmeyer and its school governing body for sharing your premises and your knowledge with us for the next 15 years. Also to the Sentinel’s ex-principal, Amanda Engelbrecht, who shared in and supported our vision from the outset.

Thank you to the Western Cape Education Department for allowing a dream to take shape in August 2013.

Thank you to the Department of Public Works and Transport for approving the initial plans in May 2014 and for being so instrumental in helping with all the approval processes and issues that arose during construction.

Thank you to many big and small funders and donors. Sea Point’s Rotary Club Am Kap, and four German Rotarian clubs (Eggenfelden-Pfarrkirchen, Germering, Landshut-Trausnitz and Neuss) collectively raised just over R3.2million for the construction of Hangberg Pre-Primary School. They have never stopped supporting the school’s needs. There are also many companies and individuals who donated funds and specifics such as kitchen appliances, a refurbished kitchen, the solar system from SolarWorld Africa installed for free by local provider OneSolar, lights and electrical fittings by EuroLux, sanitary ware by Flush Bathrooms, crockery by Hout Bay Spar, and more. Thank you also to all companies and individuals who donated the exciting prizes to be auctioned at HET’s annual dinner dance.

  Thank you to Hangberg Educational Trust’s trustees with their vision and drive: Mark Allen, Janap Davids, Carol Fisher, Liz Huckle, Evelyn Masemola, Gerhard Pietersen (resigned August 2016) and Mike Schröder. An extra thank you to Mike Schröder who never, never, never allowed funding to dry up and sat through all the weekly building site meetings for eight months.   Thank you to key volunteers who drove most of the funding and strategic initiatives since 2012: Glynis Bell, Tania Gray, Michele Harvey, Debbie Maltby, Marquerithe Schreuder and Nadine Tedder.   Thank you to Nicolette Rotter, an executive volunteer of Hangberg Educational Trust from the day of its inception in May 2012 to May 2019. Rotter who has a deep passion for sustainable upliftment of less advantaged young children helped in the establishment of our first model school through her financial expertise: from SARS matters to fundraising and marketing. Thank you, Nicolette, for sharing the first seven years with us!   Thank you to Karen Temlett, an executive volunteer of Hangberg Educational Trust from the day of its inception in May 2012 to May 2020. She played a key role in the setting up of the our model school. After fulfilling the acting principal role to help set up the school, she took care of smallest to largest critical matters such as fee collections, fundraising, school clothing as well as oversight of the after-care. Further, Temlett played an instrumental role in the trust’s annual dinner-dance fundraising initiatives (from 2012 to 2019). Thank you Karen for every cent you raised and all the energy you shared with us over eight years. Your legacy can be built upon further.   Thank you to the contracting teams who delivered a quality and unique building, on time and within budget. The contractor Johan Fick and his wonderful building team from Teknon Development, the carpenter Jan Theron, Gerrit Steyn and Charl Hamman from KLS Engineers, Herman Mynhardt from Sigma Quantity Surveyors, Design Architect Dawid de Vaal, the Principal Agents Herman Joubert and André vom Hagen from MLB Architects, as well as Jacques van Heerden from Safetycon. Thank you to the Hangberg Pre-Primary staff who have hands and hearts for children and are always ready for the next big leap forwards. Thank you for your hard work and dedication on a daily basis. Thank you to the numerous volunteers who help with refurbishment of old classrooms, weekly reading with children, assistance with outings, cleaning of the premises, gardening, professional services, food support and more! Every contribution, no matter how small, contributes to the energy, the goodwill and the success of every step we take. Without such continued support and encouragement nothing is possible.

THANK YOU.

In memoriam

Rolf Schnaufer (10 March 1948 – 12 June 2016) Rolf Schnaufer was a key Rotarian supporter who attended every weekly site meeting from January 2016 up to his sudden passing in June 2016. He gently engaged from the wings, listening and understanding the building strains, encouraging us at all times. Rolf was also the key driver of the solar panel donation we today so value. We at Hangberg Educational Trust and Hangberg Pre-Primary School miss this special man. May we carry Rolf’s name and contribution in our hearts and between the walls with fondness. Rolf, thank you for setting us on our way. May we continue to make you proud.
Johan Fick (20 January 1955 – 24 May 2017) The builder of this school, the visionary that kept many different walks of life together, the leader for whom impossible did not exist, the helper who always listened, the beautiful man with the blue eyes and white smile. The legacy he built and left for us is simply incredible.
The design. In May 2014 the Department of Public Works approved the new school by architect Dawid de Vaal; an inspiring, authentically South African design with a focus on quality pre-school child development and optimal use of land. At the same time it was a trendsetter in building techniques with very few contractors willing to even tender for the building process. Contracting process. In August 2013 the architect’s drawings were issued to the quantity surveyor, Sigma QS, for preliminary cost estimates. A detailed Bill of Quantities was prepared which was used to approach various possible contractors. After an official JBCC-type tender process Johan Fick from Teknon Construction was identified as the preferred contractor from a cost perspective combined with his proven expertise at Ikhaya Lethemba which was also built in a township setting. A follow up with the Quantity Surveyor of Ikhaya Lethemba project confirmed that Fick completed the IL project on time, the quality was excellent and he delivered within his quote. The build, due to the nature of the design and setting within a functioning Primary School the construction period, had to be extremely limited and non-disruptive. The building works started 10 January 2016 and the final, very exciting handover was in September 2016. Throughout the course of the project Fick ensured that disruptions to the daily operations of Sentinel Primary was limited, the project was delivered up to standard within budget and with a smile on everyone’s face. What a journey! It was a privilege for all to be part of the journey of constructing Hangberg Pre-Primary School and its after-care centre. The main reason for this was the man in the middle: Johan Fick. We miss you Johan. We salute you Johan. Thank you for the way you lived and inspired us. Long may your influence and legacy continue.

Testimonials

Gerrit Steyn, Engineer, 26 May 2017 Ek sukkel nog om die nuus te glo wat jy vir ons gestuur het. Johan het altyd so rustig, fiks en gesond gelyk. Ek het aangeneem dat dit is omdat hy so aktief betrokke was by sy werk en die buite werk. Ek weet self nie hoe ek weer so ‘n projek sal aanpak sonder hom nie. Hy was die een wat ons werk maklik gemaak het en dat ons billikke fooie kan aanbied. Hy het met elke probleem altyd ‘n oplossing gehad en was ook oop vir alternatiewe voostelle. Dit is die wen-resep vir enige suksesvolle projek. Ons het by mekaar geleer. Dit het werklik gevoel ons pak die projekte aan as vriende eerder as kontrakteur/konsultant. Ek gaan hom werklik mis. Dawid de Vaal, Architect, 26 May 2017 Ek kan net nie glo Johan is nie meer by ons nie. Hy is die inspirasie wat moedig en vol glimlag altyd die werk aangepak het en vir alles kans gesien het. Wat sê jy Dawie was altyd sy woorde en dan het hy iets positiefs gesê. ‘n Groot vriend is nie meer met ons nie, maar hy sal by ons bly in ons gedagtes. Ons mis jou Johan. Herman Joubert, Project manager, 25 May 2017 I met him Johan this project as a contractor and he became a friend. We’ll always remember that smile…
Read more
201603 School Site Meeting from Marquerithe Schreuder on Vimeo.