“For many years, we prepared meals in a classroom, dreaming of a proper, fully-equipped space” – The words of a hopeful principal whose dream finally came true, thanks to a collaboration that has not only transformed her school for the better but restored dignified spaces where children can learn and grow.
Kathu, South Africa (05 September 2025) – Classrooms are safe places for learning, where skills are sharpened and young minds gain knowledge to last them for a lifetime. But in some unfortunate cases, teachers and staff also find themselves in the predicament of having to prepare meals in those very spaces due to limited facilities.
It’s a concerning reality that not only disrupts learning but also poses hygiene and safety risks.
At Sishen Intermediate Mine School in the Northern Cape, one of the classrooms had been converted into a kitchen, leaving learners to study in the echoing school hall. The space lacked proper facilities to meet health standards, and constant steam from daily cooking had slowly been damaging the ceiling above.
What should have been a place for nourishment had become a symbol of strain, highlighting the urgent need for safe, dignified spaces where children could learn and grow.
Responding to this potentially dire situation, Breadline Africa, in collaboration with the Sishen Solar Facility, recently unveiled a newly built 60 m² kitchen, including a storeroom to provide a safe, dignified space where every child is assured of nourishment.
Today, every learner receives a freshly prepared breakfast each morning, carefully made by the dedicated cooks.
Where meals were once prepared in a converted classroom, with a collapsing ceiling, there now stands a bright, hygienic facility built to proper kitchen standards.
For the staff, it means preparing meals with dignity in a well-equipped space that offers safe and appropriate working conditions.
“My heart is full as we celebrate a truly special milestone for everyone at Sishen Intermediate Mine School, the opening of our brand-new kitchen. For many years, we prepared meals in a classroom, dreaming of a proper, fully-equipped space. Today, that dream has become a reality. We are deeply honoured and incredibly grateful,” said the school’s Deputy Principal, Bonolo Mosimanegape.
This improvement not only restores dignity to the cooks but also ensures that every learner starts their day with a nutritious meal. These changes are not just about buildings. They are about giving learners the foundation to focus on their education, to be healthy and to feel valued.
Sources: Breadline Africa
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Nothando Mthembu
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