The Next Chapter for Nkowankowa Primary School - a library!

My name is Valanga Khoza.

For the past 36 years, I’ve called Melbourne my home, but my story began in rural South Africa. In the late 70s, I was forced to flee the harsh realities of Apartheid as I was a youth activist, standing up against the racist laws. In exile, I joined the African National Congress and continued to fight for the freedom. After some time in refugee camps in Swaziland, Mozambique and Tanzania, I then fled to the USA. I eventually found my home and heart in Australia. Even as I built a life here, a piece of my soul remains in the land where I grew up.

My wife, Andrea, and I return to South Africa every year, taking around 40 Australians with us to experience both the beauty and the challenges of modern-day rural and urban South Africa. This trip is called Tour Limpopo and has been running since 2001. During our annual visits, we are always struck by the vast needs of the people. The basic needs of nutritious food, shelter and a quality education. We are always reminded of how far we still have to go to overcome the challenges of poverty.

This year, we visited Nkowankowa Primary School, the same school I attended as a child. It is heart-wrenching to see that, after all these years, the school is still lacking many facilities, including a library. For the 800 children who study there, access to books—the simple joy of borrowing and reading—remains out of reach. Several people on our tour were taken aback by this stark reality.

Matt Williamson, a Senior High School Teacher from Melbourne, who was part of our group, put it into words:

“I was completely shocked. Access to books is foundational to progress in education—this is recognised worldwide. When children don’t have reading materials at home or school, they lose the essential practice they need to thrive.”

Our group knew we had to act. Together, we formed “The Next Chapter”, a collective of passionate people committed to building Nkowankowa Primary School’s first-ever library. While this group of people is large, the drivers will be Valanga and Andrea Khoza, Matt Williamson and Tim Coady. We’re not just dreaming—we’re funding our own travel and accommodation to make this a reality.

But we can’t do it alone. We need your help to purchase the materials to bring this library to life.

This isn’t a “once-off” act of charity. The library will be a permanent structure, a beacon of knowledge that will stand for generations, shaping the futures of hundreds of children. It’s an investment in their education and, ultimately, in the future of their community. By providing access to books, we can help break the cycle of poverty and fuel the growth of a brighter tomorrow.

We invite you to join us in making a lasting difference. With your contribution, you’re not just donating—you’re building a future.

As a special thank you, donations over $300 will be honoured with your name on a commemorative plaque on the library’s wall—a reminder of your role in giving these children the gift of knowledge.

Together, let’s turn the page to a brighter chapter for Nkowankowa’s children.

Other contributions made by Valanga and Andrea Khoza include:

• Books and IT donations for library at Shiluvane Primary School

• Performing Arts program for Shiluvane Primary School

• Fence and classroom furniture for Dan Primary School

• Australian tour for Mafumani Secondary School Choir, and recording of traditional songs to fund associated tour costs, in collaboration with the Boite

• School bus, solar panels and inverter, kitchen renovation, books, school resources and monetary donations for Noah’s Ark Children’s Home, Tzaneen

• Australian tour for Memeza (Soweto Choir)

• Community donations of solar panels and inverters and bore hole in Ezekhaya

FAQs

Q. What happens if something stops the build?

A. If the build does not go ahead for some reason – government or administrative barriers? Money will go in full, directly to the school to be used for general funds.

Q. What happens if we raise more money than the target, or more than we need?

A. If money is raised in excess of 30,000 dollars, or if there is surplus, this will go toward supplying furniture, books, and IT to the library first, then to the school general funds.

Q. What happens if less money is raised?

A. If less money is raised, all money will go to the school general funds if, in the final assessment, it is decided that the funds will not be sufficient to cover the build.

Q. What about travel and accommodation for the volunteers?

A. Volunteers have committed to paying their own way to and during the build.

Q. Why is there not a fixed budget?

A. In South Africa, things are fluid (and cheaper) than in Australia. We are using local knowledge, experienced project management and assumptions of competitive rates for our cost estimates.

Q. Will we receive updates?

A. Yes – all donors will receive photos and updates!