R375 000 Consumer Skills Kitchen Donation Gives Lenasia Learners A New Study Option
For Immediate Release:
23 August 2022
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Many South African schools lack the infrastructure – more so the finances to provide such
infrastructure – to provide learners with a diverse curriculum, especially technical and vocational
education, hence varied career options.
Recognizing this, Lenasia, Johannesburg’s Nurul Islam School of Excellence was determined to offer
its all-girl learners an alternative study route, Consumer Studies, but developing and equipping a
Consumer Studies kitchen at the school proved a financial bridge too far.
Not any more… the South African Muslim Charitable Trust (SAMCT) heard about the school’s vision
for its learners and agreed to assist, develop, and equip a fully functional kitchen at the school,
valued at R375 000.
Speaking at a recent function to mark the official hand-over of the new educational facility, SAMCT
representative, Mr. Farouk Bayat said: “The introduction of such a facility here now enables the
school to offer its learners an alternative subject; one which will not only equip the educational
facility’s all-girl learners with very necessary life skills but will also empower them to pursue a range
of potential career choices, without the limitation associated with non-vocational subjects.”
“It is a fact that in so many instances today, learners are given little option but to pursue academic
subjects, while it is also a fact that not all learners favor such courses and are disadvantaged as
regards their preferred study route and career choices.”
Consumer Studies provide such learners with an alternative educational route and are widely
regarded as providing the basis for consumer education which will see learners grow to become
informed and responsible consumers in the future.
Mr. Farouk Bayat said: “Crucially, Consumer Studies enables learners to attain the necessary
knowledge and skills and apply the required attitude to produce and market food in such as manner
as to best satisfy consumer demands. This form of education opens the door to a myriad of career
opportunities, not least of which include quality management, product promotion, and marketing
and product development, whilst also providing an entrée to the world of entrepreneurship in
hospitality and other industries.”
“The Nurul Islam School of Excellence is, therefore to be applauded for its concern for its learners
and for its determination to afford its learners a subject which will afford them skills for life.”
He stressed that the creation and satisfactory equipping of a consumer studies kitchen at any school
was a costly undertaking and was not provided for by Government.
“Sadly, such costs are often beyond the financial means of educational institutions, no matter their
intent. The Nurul Islam School of Excellence is just such a school. Their intent is most laudable, but
the reality is that without external support, providing its learners with technical-vocational subjects
would remain but a dream.”
“The South African Muslim Charitable Trust was, therefore, pleased to assist by turning that dream
into reality and, in so doing, expanding the school’s curriculum and enhancing the study horizons of
its learners,” he added.,
The SAMCT was created in 2008, the result of a partnership between Old Mutual Unit Trusts and Al
Baraka Bank, for the creation, marketing, and distribution of a suite of Shariah Funds. This has
ensured that the SAMCT is the beneficiary of this Shariah suite of funds, enabling it to provide
funding, services and other resources for the improvement of the lives of the vulnerable, deprived
and disadvantaged. It has been singularly successful in delivering sizeable solutions throughout
South Africa – irrespective of race or religion – and continues to work to support needy organizations
in the fields of social development, poverty alleviation, healthcare, and education.
Mr. Farouk Bayat said of the organization’s donation: “This kitchen and the teaching of Consumer
Studies will most certainly make a fundamental difference to learner options here. Those who prefer
the skills-based vocational education stream, now have an alternative study route; a study route
that will enable them to go on to further their studies at the tertiary level and achieve Bachelor’s
degrees and beyond, a wealth of exciting career options. On behalf of the South African Muslim
Charitable Trust, I congratulate the school for its pursuit of such alternative education options;
options which have the interests of its learners at heart.”
ends
For more information about SAMCT or its Nurul Islam School of Excellence Consumer Studies Kitchen
donation, please contact:
Rasheeda Motala
Social Responsibility Officer
Tel: 084 506 2280
Email: samct@samct.co.za