When Athabile Nonxuba dreams, he dreams big.  Together with seventeen other University of Cape Town students, he wants to build a better, brighter future for rural school children in the Eastern Cape. Through an initiative called 'Lets Build Institutions', students collect and distribute second-hand educational material and, are fundraising to build a library and a community resource centre in in his home-town of Centane. 

Nonxuba says the idea to start 'Lets Build Institutions' was inspired by his late grandfather, Hesper Siphiwo Nonxuba, who was a teacher; a deputy principal of the local high school and, a figure held in high regard by many community members in the village of Nxokwana. “My grandfather was a big believer in education and, often subsidized local students who were keen to go the school but who lacked the funds to do so. We were all brought up to focus on concrete educational goals,” says Nonxuba. Another impetus for the project came from noticing the lack of facilities available to young people in rural communities. He talks about Nxokwana, where he grew up, as a place where time really has stood still. The same primary school he attended as a child remains untouched and other school buildings are in a similarly poor condition. Some schools lack even the most basic educational equipment. Computers are unheard of.  “Having been exposed to all that is available to students at this university and in the outside world, I feel an obligation to give back to my home community. There is an acute sense of hopelessness amongst the young and older generation in Nxokwana because education is not prioritized, because of high unemployment and because this town is largely forgotten,’ says Nonxuba.

In December 2014, he hatched a plan to set aside old school books and, using social media spread the word amongst his network of friends. Following that initial Facebook post, over 4000 books and several second-hand computers have been donated.  Fellow UCT students Mzwandile Zazi; Siyabonga Njica; Cebolenkosi Zuma, Nozipho Bisho; Lwando Mbetha; Masixole Mlandu; Lufefe Malala; Aviwe Nomnganga; Tankiso Mamambolo, Beki Boneni, Ernie Koela, Tapuwa Mataruka, Lindokuhle Patiwe; Khululwa Mthi; Clifford Ncube; Sinoxolo Mbayi and Luvo Plaatjie soon joined. The group came together through word of mouth and through social media, others through a direct relationship with Nonxuba. ‘Personally, we all share the struggle of underdevelopment in black communities. Whether it be in our homes or in the rural communities from which we come, these realities are part of our existence today’ he says.

There is more to 'Lets Build Institutions' than collecting books. Other activities include taking groups of UCT students to the Eastern Cape to visit rural schools and distribute supplies; staging theatre and poetry events involving UCT students from the Performing and Creative Arts in order to showcase the range of programmes available at the University. Now the group is raising funds to build a resource centre that will function as a meeting place for the different generations. Students will be able to access information about tertiary study opportunities, the older generation will find information on jobs and local skills development projects. 

After consulting community elders, school principals and teachers and, after meeting with the mayor of the Mnquma Municipality in Butterworth (who is supportive of the idea), the objective now is to identify a site that will benefit the larger community. The group is in the process of preparing a final proposal document that will be presented to the municipality later this year. Plans to build are also benefiting from the support of Nonxuba’s uncle Mahomba Nonxoba, who is a UCT Faculty of Engineering alumnus. He will oversee the project plans and assist with drafting the proposed development plan. 

“We are now working on establishing a serious organisation. We have many events to bring awareness around and there has been so much interest at UCT alone. We want to launch as soon as possible. Our slogan is: ‘each school, own library’, says Nonxuba.

From a big dream to revive his grandfather’s legacy, to a serious development project that is poised to impact the lives of many children and teachers in the rural communities. Nonxuba’s dreams for his home community are starting to take shape. For more information on the 'Lets Build Institutions' project and to pledge your support, email Athabile Nonxuba: letsbuildinstitutions@gmail.com. Or, visit the Lets Build Institutions Facebook page