During the time of strong apartheid in South Africa, in the early 1970’s, the school property in Kroonstad was bulldozed because the government decided to move the township area further away from where white people were residing. So, the school was moved in 1971 to a new site in the township. The government gave for the school some inferior land on a clay terrain. The SNDdeN from the British Province provided money for building temporary pre-fabricated classrooms, the principal’s office and storage. The Sisters chose to move with their children. All helped the move by carrying on their heads and in their arms the desks, chairs, and everything belonging to the school!

Nearly forty years later, the temporary construction is causing multiple problems. The location on the clay soil is causing the foundations to shift and crumble. The erosion is due to the inability of the water to be absorbed by the soil without any drainage system; the foundations are therefore being washed away. The buildings are slowly deteriorating. Also, the school was built facing the wrong direction lacking good lighting and the warmth of the sun.

The buildings need to be repositioned; the clay terrain around the buildings needs to become a greened area for playing fields to absorb the water; the buildings need to be replaced gradually. If not done, St. Peter Claver School could face closing in the future. Some re-building has begun with the assistance of our generous donors. Some grassy areas have been planted as playing fields in the vicinity of newer constructs. Now concrete fences secure the property with a grass playing field. This latter improvement is an exceptional sight in the township! Eventually, the whole school will have to be rebuilt; the Sisters hope for 8 classroom buildingss. Building deterioration continues while the SNDs search for funding. Will you help to relocate and construct one of these classroom buildings for St. Peter Claver School, an already successful school?

A proverb attributed to Nigeria, Africa or to Native Americans from Omaha, Nebraska states: “It takes a whole village to raise a child.” It takes one school to build a community. It takes one community to build a nation. It may take a worldwide effort to save a successful school with almost 1000 children, directed by our Sisters. It may take resources across oceans to provide education for these Kroonstad children living in poverty. Will you be the individual who will give them a hope for the future? The Sisters know that we can do it with you.

For many years, the Sisters of Notre Dame de Namur have worked tirelessly to counteract the evils of apartheid in South Africa and to change systems for creating peace and justice. Our Sisters have given a long-term commitment to the people of South Africa. We continue to gift the children there with the greatest gift of all---education.