Opening of New Philani Gym at School of Excellence

The new Philani (place of health) Gym has been opened at the School of Excellence. The coming together of the gym really showed how a group of many individuals can all contribute to make one big project successful. The container where the gym is housed was provided by Anine Auguste, in memory of her late parents, Philocles and Anna-Marie. The name of the container ‘Philani’ is a Xhosa word meaning 'Place of Health' and was used both for it’s meaning and to create a combination from Philocles and Anna – Marie’s names.

The container was then fitted with gym equipment paid for by a group of 14 boys from Wellington College, England, who not only donated the funds to buy the equipment but also travelled to South Africa in their school holiday to paint the container and assemble the equipment. The boys who were all from Stanley House at Wellington College spent the week getting to know the United Through Sport SA scholars joining in with their life skills classes and training sessions. Stanley House also collectively sponsors 20 of the School of Excellence players so it was a great opportunity for both groups of boys to learn more about each other (some of the Stanley House boys also proved very popular with the girls).

The week ended with the grand opening of the gym with the Rugby and Soccer boys demonstrating the brand new equipment for a crowd of pupils, teachers, local councilors and sports administrators and the local press.

The week proved to be successful and a highlight of the year for both sets of pupils and it is hoped that this is just the start of an on-going relationship between the schools.

“It’s amazing, we’re the only School in the whole township who has their own gym, this is going to give us so much confidence when we play Grey School again next year!” – Mfundo Mpothula, School of Excellence, Rugby.