Most of the learners from Sharicrest Primary live quite literally across the road in the informal settlement of Thembelihle. The settlement came up in the 1980s and was probably one of the first settlements in the country established within a suburb, the suburb of Lenasia.
Thembelihle is a sprawling community, served by three primary schools and one secondary school, Sharicrest being one of them.
Learners attending the school have very few resources to assist them with completing homework activities, practicing their reading skills or having a safe haven to play in and read. The trustees saw this as an ideal opportunity to impact the neediest of our communities.
The library that came standard with the school building was used as a storeroom when the Trust took on the project. The principal and his team cleared the room in a matter of days, and in precisely three months and ten days, a brand-new library was presented to the school community.
Usage of the library, especially over weekends and holidays, is higher than all other Imperial schools, because learners look at this as a clean, safe and fun place to be. Learners can be seen playing chess on the big outdoor board, playing board games, just watching movies, or simply lounging about reading.
The reading scores of this school have improved significantly since the rollout of the reading programme.
