Crowd funding campaign raises nearly R150k for school in one month

An online campaign that aimed to raise R90‚000 to refurbish classrooms at a Cape Town school has raised R146‚069.33 in just a month.

The online campaign went live on March 15 on BackaBuddy and raised R32‚682 on a single day.

Rob Broster started the online campaign to honour his friend Ian Macdonald‚ who had dedicated the last two years of his life to Hillwood Primary in Lavender Park. Macdonald died in a car crash on February 20 this year‚ a day after his 44th birthday.

Macdonald was since 2002 involved with non-government organisations that supported homeless children. He was also the editor of SAgoodnews.co.za.

He organised a staff development program‚ introduced new extra mural activities such as boxing and surfing and helped the NGO Shine to establish a reading programme at the school.

“Ian didn’t just talk about what must be done. He just did it‚” Broster said. “He loved feeling that he was contributing to society and using his network to help those in unfavorable circumstances.”

The money will be used to paint‚ refloor‚ fix broken windows and repair desks and chairs the three Grade 1 classrooms.