Lewisham in furniture re-use for African schools

 As part of the council's investment in education, five schools are being modernised and renovated under the Grouped Schools PFI scheme. 

The council said: “The £60m project will see three secondary schools and two primary schools transformed into learning environments with 21st century facilities.”

A total overhaul of two of the secondary schools being renovated – Crofton and Forest Hill – means they are about to receive all-new equipment.

A statement from Lewisham council added: “We are keen to ensure that the furniture and equipment are disposed of in an ethical and sustainable way. The council has decided to pool the equipment that was able to be recycled and reused and send it to educational counterparts in the Gambia, Ghana and Sierra Leone.”

Justin Cole, young mayor of Lewisham, said: “Building bridges internationally between schools is an excellent way to share resources, opinions and ideas and also encourages understanding of different cultures. I think this is a wonderful idea and I am really excited by the fact that my school, Crofton, is going to be part if it. 

“I believe that as a borough we should use this as a stepping stone for development and progress.  We should find ways to sustain this idea and also involve as many students as possible.”

Bonsu Boaten, Headteacher of the Maria Montessori School in Kumasi in Ghana, which will receive some of the equipment, said: “This equipment is going to go into our own new school in Ghana. The children will be so pleased to see all this equipment when it arrives in a couple of weeks. I am very happy to be here in Lewisham, helping to load the trucks.”

Lewisham's PFI partner working on modernising the borough's schools and partners in the furniture for Africa project is construction and services firm Bouygues UK.

Lionel Christolomme, managing director of Bouygues UK, said: “We pride ourselves on contributing positively to the promotion of sustainable solutions in all we do and it is an integral part of our overall company ethos. This donation of furniture is part of our ongoing partnership with the London Borough of Lewisham – a relationship which has developed through their schools PFI project – and reflects our commitment to the communities in which we work. We know this donation will bring great benefit to those who receive it.”

Also helping to co-ordinate and send the shipment to schools in Africa is the Whitmore Trust, a registered charity whose primary purpose is supporting development activities in West Africa. Ryan Kelly and Glenn Shepherd and their team of volunteers have been working with Crofton and Forest Hill schools to co-ordinate getting all the equipment in one place for shipment.

The shipment from Lewisham includes: approximately 100 PCs, 1500 classroom chairs, 800 steel framed pupil tables, 100 filing cabinets, a variety of D.T. equipment, 5 photocopiers, library shelving units, cupboards, noticeboards and assorted learning resource materials and books.

Justin Cole, Young Mayor of Lewisham (in the truck) and Sir Steve Bullock, Mayor of Lewisham (2nd from right) and Crofton and Forest Hill pupils help load a truck bound for Ghana.