Publish Date: 21.03.2012
Category: News from the University
Representatives of the South African Embassy in Vienna, Ms. Titi Molava (Deputy Ambassador), Ms. Debra Steiner, Dr. Van Zyl and Ms. Adriana Ružič-Terglav visited the Faculty of Architecture to express their gratitude to the students and professors who participated in the ITHUBA Africa 2011 project last summer, building a library and multipurpose classroom near Johannesburg. The building is situated near the school that our faculty students and professors built in 2010. The ceremony was attended by the Honorary Consul of the South African Republic to Slovenia, Mr. Janez Pergar, and Professor Dr. Lars Bylund from Sweden who participated in the project in relation to climate issues and the exploitation of natural resources and energy. Following a brief and eye-catching audio and video presentation of the project and addresses by the faculty dean, Peter Gabrijelčič, MSc, and by the Rector of the University, Prof. Dr. Radovan Stanislav Pejovnik, the students presented Ms. Titi Molava with a chair made in the South African Republic.
Ms. Titi Molava: “You have the courage and the heart for such a big act as the construction of a school for the poor inhabitants of the Johannesburg surroundings. Perhaps one day in developed Europe you will meet a highly educated African who will tell you that they went to the school you built and will thank you for that. This will make you happy. You will see that your efforts and courage were not in vain. Such charity is not just one feat on a list of your life experiences; it is a thing of priceless value for our educational system, for our children. We are aware that we need to increase the level of education of black people, but we need help to do so. Your contribution is an important part in the mosaic of a better world for our children. You have shown your abilities, which you will be able to upgrade through work not only in our country, but everywhere where help will be needed. In the name of the people of Africa, I extend our heartfelt gratitude and I am truly at a loss how to express the gratefulness we feel for your charity work.”
The Rector of the University, Prof. Dr. Radovan Stanislav Pejovnik: “We are very proud of you, esteemed students, professors and mentors who through your combined efforts, have done an exceptionally charitable project in the developing world. With your exemplary act, you have carried the University of Ljubljana’s name out into the world. At your presentation in December, you gave me a chair just like the one you have donated to Ms. Molava. I keep it in my office even though it is equipped with period furniture. I tell all my visitors where the chair originates from and that our students built a multipurpose school building in a third world country in Africa using natural materials in 8 weeks. I boast about you. The University supports you in your endeavours.”
The Dean of the Faculty of Architecture, Prof. Peter Gabrijelčič, MSc: “I offer my sincere gratitude to all the participants, especially the students and their mentors, and a heartfelt welcome to today’s guests who honour our Faculty of Architecture with their visit. A special thanks to all the sponsors, donors and the Rector for their financial and moral support.”
From the press release at the presentation of the multipurpose building in the South African Republic:
A group of students and mentors of the Faculty of Architecture this year again participated in the international network of architectural faculties for the construction of public buildings in developing countries led by the Austrian SARCH foundation. In autumn 2011, the group built a new multipurpose hall within the Ithuba school complex on the outskirts of Johannesburg in the South African Republic. The hall is the second building that the students of the Ljubljana-based Faculty have erected in Ithuba in collaboration with local workers. Last year, they constructed a library and classroom and the knowledge and experience from this project helped in the construction of the building this year. The building was constructed with their own hands and with extremely modest resources (EUR 32,000) within eight weeks. Built entirely from local materials (clay, straw, steel), the hall is intended for classes, dancing, theatre performances and various other events.
Besides experience, the United Nations Millennium Declaration from 2000 served as the student volunteers’ guiding principle, with goals for the new millennium that include eradicating poverty and hunger and providing free education.
More about the project in this document or at: http://www.saip.si/projekt-saip-2010 .
You can read the Ambassador’s thank you note at: http://www.uni-lj.si/files/ULJ/userfiles/Zahvala.pdf