Rotary Club of Namakwa restores dignity with new sanitation facilities at Buffelsrivier Primary

The Rotary Club of Namakwa has brought renewed hope and dignity to Buffelsrivier Primary School with the official handover of a brand new toilet block on Saturday, 25 October 2025. The project, located in the Nama-Khoi municipal area, marks a significant step forward in improving sanitation for pupils and the broader Buffelsrivier community.

The construction of the new toilets began in July 2025 under Cyril Bugan from Komaggas. The contractor’s team worked diligently on excavation and the installation of essential piping infrastructure behind the new block. A project inspection on 4 July 2025 included a presentation of detailed progress plans and aerial sketches illustrating the layout and development achieved on site.

Speaking at the handover ceremony, Rotary Club of Namakwa President Julie Estey said the initiative was much more than a construction effort; it was a lasting investment in the well-being of young learners.

“This project goes beyond building toilets for the pupils; it’s about giving them dignity and a hygienic, private space to respond to the call of nature,” Estey said. “It’s a testament to what can be achieved when communities and partners work together for a greater cause.”

Estey herself participated in the early stages of the project, symbolically joining a student volunteer to dig the first trench. This gesture, she said, reflected Rotary’s enduring ethos of Service Above Self, the belief that meaningful service can transform lives and uplift communities.

For many pupils who have long endured inadequate sanitation, the completion of the new facilities has brought both comfort and pride. The toilets are more than a physical improvement; they represent health, safety, and respect for every child who uses them.

The Rotary Club of Namakwa extended heartfelt thanks to its project partners, Sinvac, Peninsula Beverages, the Rotary Club of Newlands, Zamavuka Construction, and the Bloom Organisation, for their unwavering support and leadership throughout the initiative.

“This achievement embodies the true spirit of service and community,” Estey added. “Together, we’ve built not just toilets, but a foundation for health, dignity, and pride that will serve generations of learners to come.”

As the club celebrated this milestone, Estey encouraged Buffelsrivier Primary’s pupils to take pride in their new facilities by keeping them clean and well-maintained.

“By caring for these toilets, learners not only protect their own well-being but also preserve them for future generations,” she said.

The Buffelsrivier toilet project stands as a shining example of how collaboration, compassion, and community-driven action can make a lasting difference, one that restores dignity and inspires hope for years to come.