The morning began with an unexpected delay for many of us travelling to Kleinfontein Primary, as enormous pieces of wind‑farm machinery were being transported along the route — the kind of slow‑moving convoy that turns a short trip into a patient crawl. But the moment we arrived at the little school situated in the middle of vast, open farmland, the wait felt worth it.

Kleinfontein Primary is one of the smallest schools in the region, with just 26 learners across two multi‑grade classes: Grades 1–3 in one room and Grades 4–7 in the other. The Pick n Pay School Club’s Project School Takeover specifically focuses on schools with fewer than 30 learners, ensuring that even the smallest and most rural communities receive meaningful support at the start of the school year.

Despite the excitement building outside — visitors arriving, cameras being unpacked, and the unmistakable buzz of a big day — the children remained calm, focused and beautifully well‑behaved, continuing with their schoolwork until the programme officially began.

The atmosphere lifted even further when three national rugby stars arrived:

• Zachary Porthen, one of South Africa’s most promising young front‑row players
• Sinazo Mcatshulwa, a dynamic Springbok Women’s player known for her leadership and community involvement
• Babalwa Latsha, a trailblazer in women’s rugby and a powerful advocate for girls in sport

Their presence brought a wave of excitement through the school. Learners lit up as the players handed out CSI Viro pencil bags, posed for photos and spent time chatting with the children — moments that will no doubt be remembered for years.

As part of Pick n Pay’s national initiative, every learner received a R1,000 food hamper, new school shoes, stationery and other essentials. The school also received a generous grocery donation to support its feeding programme.

Polyco’s team continued the momentum with their Million+ Grade 1 Recycling Education Programme, which has expanded to reach 16,000 Grade 1 learners at 100 schools this year. Kleinfontein’s youngest learners each received a bright, practical recycling toolkit designed to help them build everyday habits around waste separation and environmental responsibility.

Teachers were honoured with gifts in recognition of their dedication, and after the formalities, learners enjoyed lunch with the visiting teams before parents joined to assist with the food hamper distribution.

The day also highlighted the growing impact of Pick n Pay Family Swellendam, which has been open for just over a year and has already made a palpable, positive difference in the community through its many initiatives, partnerships and acts of support. Much of this momentum comes from Richard de Freitas, the young, hard‑working entrepreneur at the helm, who leads his family with vision and integrity, and a genuine commitment to community upliftment.

The day was a powerful reminder of what collaboration can achieve — retailers, NGOs, producer responsibility organisations and even national sports heroes coming together to uplift a small rural school in a big way.