Ithongasi Library

The first MER Foundation school library was constructed at this school in 2012 in the Province of KwaZulu-Natal.

They were awarded the LIBRARY OF EXCELLENCE from the Provincial Dept. of Education in 2019.

Ithongasi has over 1,200 students with approximately 40 students per class.

As host of the "Reading Strategy" in 2020, the South African Minister of Basic Education, Ms. A Motsekga, and her cabinet members were in attendance for this launch , which was truly an honor for the school and the foundation.

“Learners are motivated by the available resources found in the library. Reading using E Readers and Palmtops has made them feel special and has encouraged learners to be excellent in their studies.”

-B. NDOVELA, PRINCIPAL

Mdatya Primary School

The second school library donation in 2013, located in the Province of Eastern Cape, near the Wild Coast.

Not only is this the first library for the school but also for a community of 100,000 students in this district. This particular library build helped us decide our targeted region in the Eastern Cape.

Mdatya hosts grades K-8, with 1,300 students and 25 staff and teachers.

“The gift of the library helps our learners in reading and writing and they are now capable of entering spelling bee competitions up to the district level.”

-M. MADIKIZELA, PRINCIPAL

Stanford Senior Primary School

SSPS was our third school library donation in 2014, located in Eastern Cape, near Bizana.

Stanford has approximately 1,100 students, with 24 teachers, and only 12 classrooms for grades K-9 (Currently under construction to renovate campus.)

SSPS was established for learners who struggled to reach schools in their nearby communities due to the distances they had to walk.

“Because of the library, our learners are improving. They are doing book reviews, spelling bees, reading stories, and even creating their own books.”

-ZIANDA, NTSHULANA, LIBRARIAN

Zamokuhle J.S.S.

This was our fourth school library construction, donated in 2015, located in the Eastern Cape, near Bizana.

Zamokuhle J.S.S. has approximately 900 students and 24 teachers.

The school and surrounding community never had a library before, therefore the donation was a huge boost to promote literacy.

“Learners who have been struggling with reading are now visiting the library and reading willingly and confidently. As an educator it has made my lessons easier to plan and more desirable for learners to learn.”

-BASANDA PANDA, EDUCATOR

Ngcingo Primary School

This was our fifth school library construction, donated in 2016. Located in the Eastern Cape. The area only offered two other libraries in the Bizana region.

Ngcingo has approximately 1,100 students, grades K-9, and 25 educators.

There has been such an improvement in reading levels now that literacy resources have been made available to the students and teachers.

“Learning has become much easier with the donation of the library . It has improved reading and comprehension levels.”

-B. TOBO, PRINCIPAL

Lingelethu Senior Primary School

This was our sixth school library construction, donated in 2017. Located in the Eastern Cape, near the Wild Coast.

Lingelethu has approximately 350 students,15 staff and teachers, grades K-5.

Lingelethu had never possessed a library on its campus, so the MER Foundation was able to provide a greater opportunity to improve reading and writing for the early learners.

“Learners confidence in speech deliverance and the younger grades love for reading has made an impact on the grades and testing scores.”

-B.A. SISWANA, PRINCIPAL

Plangeni Senior Primary School

Our seventh school library construction, donated in 2018. Located in the Eastern Cape near the Wild Coast.

Plangeni has approximately 1,500 students, 35 staff and teachers, grades K-8.

New school campus was completed the same year. We had the opportunity to completely furnish two rooms for the library and media center.

“The library has allowed our school to go to the next level in our district competitions. We are challenging our learners weekly to be involved with “storytime,” where a learner picks a book to read to the entire campus.”

-B. DLANJWA, EDUCATOR

Free Methodist School

This was our eighth school library construction, donated in 2019. Located in the Eastern Cape near the Wild Coast.

Free Methodist has approximately 500 students,18 staff and teachers, grades K-8.

“This library has been a valuable asset to our school and all the learners are excited. We see improvement with learners’ reading skill, oral spelling bee competition and artwork. They are writing their own stories.”

-V.A. NDAYI, PRINCIPAL

Mdatya Primary School Library Expansion

This was our ninth school library construction, donated in 2021, located in Eastern Cape, near Wild Coast.

The original library in 2013 was a modular office structure that we retrofitted to accommodate the library. The school was waiting for the government to add to their school campus, as they were overcrowded with 100+ learners in 11 classrooms.

We were able to double the size of their library and provide an area for group learning with media with the new addition.

“This new library addition motivates us to use the library more since we have the additional space to bring our whole class at one time.“

-P. GUGAZA, EDUCATOR

Vulindlela Comprehensive Technical School

This was our tenth school library construction, donated in 2022, located in Eastern Cape, near the Wild Coast.

Vulindlela has approximately 800 students, 34 staff and teachers, grades 10-12.

This is the first high school library provided by MER Foundation.

“Your slogan...Today’s readers are tomorrow’s leaders, that can only happen with this library donation. We now have a better understanding on why this is so important, as most of our learners are older and often struggle in their comprehension”

-S. PAUL, EDUCATOR