KNYSNA NEWS - Knysna Primary School (KPS), together with owner of île de païn Pauli Botha and her committed team, recently hosted a fundraiser aimed at supporting the school's special needs learners. 

Parents, residents and local partners worked together to uplift the 242 KPS learners who struggle with learning barriers and require additional academic support.

The fundraiser was held at île de païn on Thesen Island on Thursday 13 November.

As a full-service school, KPS works to close learning gaps through daily remedial assistance. Yet the demand continues to grow, and limited funding makes it increasingly challenging to provide the specialised interventions many children urgently need. 

These include individual facilitators, professional educational assessments and emotional support services - resources that can dramatically change a child's life but are often financially inaccessible, according to principal Ivor White.

One of the school's most pressing priorities is upgrading the playground used by the autistic class. The vision is to build a safe, stimulating, and fully compliant space where learners can play and develop with confidence. 

The school also urgently needs a dedicated play therapist to support children's emotional and developmental well-being.

Thanks to the generosity of donors and guests who attended the fundraiser, KPS managed to secure a portion of the funds required to move these projects forward.

The school expressed heartfelt gratitude to everyone who contributed, with special thanks going to Pauli Botha and the île de païn team for their steadfast commitment to the cause.

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