“If we can, we must,” says Vuma CEO following pledge to donate face masks to schools

“If we can, we must,” says Vuma CEO following pledge to donate face masks to schools

In an effort to help school staff and learners stay safe as they return to classrooms, Vuma has committed to providing over 10 schools that are part of its Fibre to Schools network with face masks.

“The masks have already been put to good use at our school, and our kids are proud to wear them,” says Mr Chris Coetzee, Principal at Roodepark School where masks have already been distributed. “It’s good to have a company that’s so involved in helping the school and our community as a whole.”

Mr Enoch Tango, Principal at Sunward Park High School in Boksburg, says that while the pandemic has made the running of the school and ensuring the safety of staff and learners challenging, masks have been a great help. “We are doing our best, and we thank Vuma for the donation. The masks went a long way in ensuring that we give the learners an additional way to keep safe.

Vuma’s Fibre to Schools programme provides schools located on Vuma’s existing fibre deployment routes with a free 1Gbps fibre line in support of digitising classrooms and bringing access to a world of information and opportunity to educators and learners. The initiative aligns with the company’s goal of making fast, reliable fibre services accessible to as many people in SA as possible.

“Our decision to donate face masks to these schools is very much aligned to the thinking behind the Fibre to Schools initiative. Our mantra is, ‘if we can, we must’, and this is the golden thread that runs through everything we do as a company,” says Dietlof Mare, Vuma CEO.

As parents and learners wrestle with the notion of sending their children back to school following Basic Education Minister Angie Motshekga’s announcement about the reopening of schools across South Africa, Mare adds that the country’s top priority should be keeping our valued educators and future leaders safe.

“We can all do our part to help stop the spread of COVID-19 by taking the necessary precautions to keep ourselves and others safe. Wearing a mask whenever we are around others is one of them. Constantly sanitising, keeping a safe distance and, most of all, staying informed of the latest news and updates surrounding the pandemic are other forms of staying safe right now,” adds Mare.

To find out more about Vuma’s Fibre to Schools initiative and whether your school qualifies to apply for free fibre, visit www.vumatel.co.za.