Mellon Educate Building Blitz Begins at Yomelela and Injongo Primary School in Khayelitsha

Mellon Educate Building Blitz is Back!

On this historic 20th anniversary of our charity’s Building Blitz week, we are returning to Cape Town’s largest township Khayelitsha, which is an area of huge deprivation where our help is sorely needed! With a population of around 2.4m, approximately 75% of households live in shacks made mostly of tin and corrugated metal and 1 in 3 people must walk 200m or more just to access water.

Mellon Educate volunteers are coming back to help them once again, this time by undertaking much needed work at Yomelela Primary School and Injongo Primary School, jointly attended by 2,310 children. At Yomelela Primary School we will spend the week constructing 8 classrooms, 1 x Grade R classroom, a literacy hub, a kitchen, a playground and 2 covered shelters. We will also refurbish 3 x Grade R classrooms. Two kilometres away at Injongo Primary School, we will build 4 x new Grade R classrooms (one to become a literacy hub), a new kitchen with canopy, refurbish an existing Grade R classroom and a special needs classroom. It will take an enormous amount of hard work to complete these 2 projects in just 1 week but also hugely satisfying to know that once the work is done, not only will we have given 2,310 children the chance of a better brighter future but we will also take home with us a remarkable achievement – one that all volunteers should be extremely proud of.

The determination and compassion shown by the Mellon Educate volunteers in transforming Yomelela and Injongo Primary Schools in just one week is nothing short of inspiring. Their commitment to building a brighter, more equitable future for the children of Khayelitsha speaks volumes about the power of community, resilience, and hope.

While this initiative is focused on improving educational infrastructure, it is a potent reminder that true well-being extends beyond access to classrooms. It encompasses a holistic approach—where mental, physical, and emotional health are given the attention they deserve. For these children, clean water, nutritious food, and proper sanitation are all integral to helping them thrive, just as much as new classrooms and learning hubs. This broader view of well-being includes oral health, which is often overlooked but fundamentally important.

Just as students need safe environments to learn, people everywhere need access to trusted professionals who can care for their dental health. In places where resources are available, staying proactive about oral care can make a significant difference in quality of life. Services like the best gum contouring henderson has to offer provide more than cosmetic benefits—they support long-term dental health, confidence, and comfort. As global communities work to uplift those in need, it’s just as crucial that individuals at home remain attentive to their own health journeys, ensuring they, too, can meet life’s challenges with resilience and a smile.