Orlando Pirates Learning Centre Launched

Orlando Pirates Football Club, the reigning Double Treble Champions, have today launched the Orlando Pirates Learning Centre at its home, Orlando stadium.

The Orlando Pirates Learning Centre, supported by Acer Africa, is a unique project designed to assist and improve the numeracy and literacy skills of the children living in and around the Orlando township.

This initiative adds in a significant way to Orlando Pirates’ long standing tradition of community development.

“It is from our involvement in the community that we know the difference that we can and should make when our young people are at their formative ages. These are the ages when they are impressionable. The foundation laid at these ages is unshakable”, said Dr Khoza, Orlando Pirates chairman.

“We are thankful to Acer, the Official IT Partner to Orlando Pirates, for supporting our vision and helping make this initiative a success”, added Dr Khoza. Orlando Pirates Football Club supported by Acer for Education will aim to assist the community in eliminating illiteracy and teach children to embrace the chance to learn. Together both parties aim to lead by example in uplifting the community of Soweto and endeavour to take this innovating concept on improving education by expanding learning centres across the country in the near future.

“Our former President Nelson Mandela called education the most powerful weapon one can use to change the world, and it is with this inspirational thought that Acer has decided the first of many Learning Centres to the children of Soweto”, said Damien Durrant Country Business Manager for Acer Africa. Acer has a global business unit which focuses solely on the education and the development thereof.

The Orlando Pirates Learning Centre will further aim to provide children with a supplementary understanding of their school curriculum from 2013 including the following subjects: Maths, Science, English. 

The Learning Centre has been fully equipped with a number of Acer’s top of the line products as well as full internet access thus offering invaluable training on various technology hardware and software which will prove imperative when the scholars enter the work force one day. Children will be required to qualify through a system run between the Orlando Pirates Learning Centre and the surrounding schools.

About Orlando Pirates Learning Centre

The Learning Centre aims to work collaboratively with the Department of Education to promote community cohesion, education and lifelong learning. Working in partnership with schools from Soweto, Orlando Pirates will use the power of football to excite and inspire the children from the community.

Located in the premises of Orlando Stadium, the Learning Centre will be open six days a week, catering for children between the ages of 8 and 16 years.

The Learning Centre, with the assistance of Acer for Education aims:

• To build successful relationships with schools and the various local communities to develop and deliver exciting education initiatives which will help inspire the pupils to achieve their learning goals.

• Develop independent, motivated and confident pupils who are able to access all potential learning opportunities.

• Maintain a learning environment which is both secure and exciting, encouraging high levels of pupil participation and expectations of achievement.

• Raise standards in literacy and numeracy in line with the national curriculum.

Orlando Pirates first team players will play an integral role in the Learning Centre – motivating and inspiring the pupils through various educational activities.