Non-profit social enterprise, Rise International, hasofficially opened a kitchen pavilion at Motimposo Primary School.
The project, which began as part of an international students’ workshop, represents a milestone in sustainable construction and community collaboration.
Designed and constructed using environmentally friendly Interlocking Compressed Earth Block (ICEB) technology, the pavilion was built to reduce the impact of the environmental through the use of locally sourced, low carbon building materials while providing a vital resource for the school and the surrounding community.
The deputy principal of Motimposo Primary School, Sister Mahali Mphutlane, said when Rise International informed them that they were looking to partner with the school to build a kitchen facility, it felt like a dream come true.
Mphutlane said it was challenging to feed all 1400 learners when the weather was extremely dusty or rainy because their cooking area was too exposed.
“This made it difficult to prepare food,” she noted during the handover ceremony on Friday.
The country director of Rise International, Reitumetse Nthako, said they are proud of this project and what it represents.
Nthako said the involvement of the community was been central to the successful completion of the project.
From the initial stages of design to the final stages of construction, the residents of Motimposo welcomed the project as their own and played an integral role in bringing it to life.
The facility will provide a space for food preparation and nutrition programmes that benefit both students and staff.
Its completion marks a significant step in improving school infrastructure while also creating opportunities for skills transfer and local employment during the construction stage.
