EIGHT schools in Fort Beaufort have been named as the lucky winners of the Cashbuild Art-at-Heart competition.

The schools will each receive a Cashbuild building material voucher to the value of R15 000, which means the schools will now be able to both improve and repair their premises. The vouchers will be handed out to all the schools at the Art-at-Heart ceremony at the refurbished Cashbuild Fort Beaufort store today (June 2).

The children from the selected schools will entertain everyone with singing, cultural dancing and theatrical performances during the ceremony.

Tinis Primary School and Lower Blinkwater Primary School are just two of the eight schools that will each receive Cashbuild building material vouchers.

Tinis Primary Schools’ principal, Constance Naki, said, “During the floods, some of the fencing was damaged.

“We can replace those parts near the learners’ toilets, especially as this is a security measure around that section of the school.

“We would also like to complete our kitchen area with some wall tiles and grout.”

Mrs Ramncwana, the principal of Lower Blinkwater Primary School said, “The toilets are where the most upgrading is needed, the toilet bowls need replacing, the roof needs urgent repairs, as it floods the bathroom when it rains.

“We also have prefab classes that need completing. Foundation and steps to the classes will be the finishing touches before we are able to use these classes.”

The Cashbuild Art-at-Heart competition entails learners from each school to submit their best artwork to Cashbuild.

This artwork is displayed at the ceremony and remains on display in the Cashbuild store for the next six years.

Artwork will be judged and three winners from each school will be named.

Winners will receive Cashbuild Art-at-Heart gold, silver and bronze certificates for first, second and third place respectively.

The manager’s choice award will also be presented to the overall winner of the artwork competition.

This award will be announced on the day and the winning learner will receive a backpack with stationery and a trophy. The winner is also given the honour of officially opening the new store.

The schools that will benefit from the Cashbuild Art-at-Heart donations are:

Since the Art-at-Heart campaign was launched, 21 years ago, Cashbuild has helped more than 3 500 schools in Southern Africa, with more than R45 million worth of building materials.

Cashbuild is BEE compliant and every time a store is opened, relocated or refurbished, Cashbuild not only makes donations to local schools, but also creates jobs for community members.

The Art-at-Heart competition is a Southern African Cashbuild initiative whereby donations are made to some of the region’s most needy schools.

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