BAOBAB COLLEGE

ROOTS

Over 10 years ago, a diverse group of people, got together to build a school that is today Baobab College.  The school’s beginnings were as original as the baobab tree is different from all others.

In October 1992 two friends were at a funeral and started chatting about what they would do about schooling, as both had one young child. One came up with the original solution: “Let’s build a school”.  And so the seed was planted and a dream began. These two pioneers, Heather Chalcraft and Nick Lostrom, met to determine who they would invite to sit on the Board.  They were calculating and shrewd in their selection.  Although all those that were invited to be members were upstanding citizens of the community and very likeable people, there were clearly ulterior motives for calling on them. All had young children. One had land; one had a construction company; one had a passion for education; one was financially-minded. And so the Board began with 8 founder members, Heather Chalcraft and Nick Lostrom, Jumbo van Blerk, Paul Golson, Klaske Hiemstra, Guy Blachford, Mark O’Donald, Alfie Francis with Paul as Chairman.  It was decided that the Founder members would be ‘members for life’.

Soon the matter of a name for the school arose. Randomly, one member said “Baobab” and the others instantly knew that was the name. And so, on 26 May 1993, Baobab Trust School Ltd was incorporated.

In between all this, word was spreading about the plan to build a school and members of the community were approaching the Board members with much enthusiasm.  As one Board member put it, “After counting up the number of children on the Board at that time and on a few promised enrolments, it was realised there were just enough little monsters to get the school up, running and open.” Some parents did balk at the idea of school uniforms, but the Board was determined to stick with their vision of a more traditional school.

Now that the school had been officially formed, staffing was the next valuable commodity to be sourced.  Rosemary Kirby was employed by Nkwazi School at the time and agreed to come on board as the Head with the proviso that Mavis Jackman, her administrator, could come with her.  Beryl Roberts and Roshni Karanja leapt in boldly as teachers and the school was now equipped to teach from Reception classes to Grade 6.

All plans were in place to open the doors to the school, but there was just one small issue that needed to be resolved first.  The school had no premises.  After much searching, a house was found, 235 Kasangula Road in Roma, and renovations began immediately. The school started in January 1994 with 23 students and 3 teachers and by the end of the first year had grown to 70 students and 7 teachers.  Growth had exceeded all expectations.

Next on the list was the matter of school uniforms.  Meetings were held with parents and many options were considered.  In the meantime, students were wearing navy/black skirts or shorts and a white top. 

Other developments soon began - first, a swimming pool, then sports fields.  First to emerge was a ¾ size football field and in May of that year, the school held the first “Seven a side” football tournament that has become an annual event.  During this period, the first athletics meeting for the school was also held. Development was happening in great strides.  Whilst cash flow may have been limited, innovation and improvisation were not. Members fondly remember the kitchen being turned into a temporary multi-media centre, complete with computers.

The PTA was incorporated to take on a vital role in the school, and leave the Board to more strategic matters, although they always maintained a ‘hands on’ approach to the operational running of the school.  In 1995, student intake had increased to 140 students and so the board employed Alan Bradford as principal.  With this rapid growth came a new concern.  The premises were becoming too confined. 

And so in 1996 the Board started planning for a secondary school. Their first steps to achieve this were to recruit Lynne Williams and Gloria Jones from the Copperbelt. The primary school stayed where it was and the secondary school opened at the old Swedish school premises – Alekenkarta Road in Long Acres. The secondary school opened with 12 students in September 1997, offering Grade 7 to Grade 9. Building was back in progress and the board completed 8 more classrooms, 4 on ground level, 4 on the first floor level and a music room.  A borehole was sunk and a sprinkler system installed. Tarmac was put on the driveway, a roof over the verandah and a fence around the pool. At the same time, Sonya van Blerk opened the pre-school “Baobabes” across from the primary school.

The school hostel for boys and girls also opened during this year in two renovated flats behind the secondary school.  At first intake, there were 3 boys and 2 girls. In December 1997, the hostel moved from the flats to a house in Roma. In September 1997, the school changed its name to “Baobab College”.

By 1998 as the school was still experiencing rapid growth, space was once again becoming a problem.  The Board considered housing options in Woodlands, NRDC Park and Roma but nothing seemed suitable. They realised then they were going to have to build their own school, and land was donated by Jumbo van Blerk out at Lilayi.  

In January 1999 the construction company “broke ground”.  In July 1999, a cycle marathon was held to the site, where students, parents and members had a braai.  Many claimed it would never be finished in time but the Board never wavered on this, and the school was handed over on Saturday 4 September 1999 at 13h00 with school starting on the Monday 6 September, at 07h30 to everyone’s delight.

All the goods had been moved from the old school into the library and reception classes where they were stored until the keys were handed over.  Then the sorting out process began.  Planting of truckloads of grass also began in earnest. but then mowers had to be purchased. The rugby posts were also erected.  These had to be carried to the school as there was no truck big enough to carry them. The next part of the plan was to build a Science block.  This was achieved through a grant from the Beit Trust.  Then came the dream of a swimming pool.   Not just any pool, but one built to Olympic standards. Building commenced in 1999 and the first swim was in March 2000, in the form of “The Big splash” when all the students jumped in together.  

In January 2000 the hostel moved to a house in Makeni.  This was refurbished to house 39 students. Also in that year, two baobab trees were planted in the centre of the car park, as a symbol of the hope in the future.

In 2001, the tennis courts, volleyball courts, hostel, new hall, admin block and the canteen were built.  The canteen had to be erected in 3 weeks over the December holidays

In Jan 2002 the hostel on campus was completed.  The Board members slept in the hostel on the first night to ensure it was all running and working efficiently. The PTA also built the Piazza and shelter.

In 2003 building for the new primary block got underway and some of the smaller classrooms were expanded by knocking down some walls.  The PTA sponsored the shade structure in the pool area much to the delight of all swimmers and spectators.

By 2004, Baobab’s 10^th anniversary, there were over 450 students and 57 teaching staff.   Without a doubt, the dream had been realised. The Primary School took possession of their last classroom block (built in-house) and this enabled all the class rooms in the primary school to utilise all the space for which they were originally designed. The massive fireworks display raised similar funds to cover the next section of the pool shade.

2004 also saw the Board set about trying to move into the next stage of the school’s development with the appointment of a Principal. Plans were at an advanced stage for a new hostel block for the Boys which were finished on time by Jan 2006.

In 2006 the Management of the School was redirected by the Founder members who removed themselves from the Board and elected a completely new Board while in 2007 the first of the staff houses to be built on the newly acquired piece of land adjacent to the school was begun

Minds are constantly envisaging an even bigger and better future for Baobab College and there is never a shortage of passion from the Board to turn these visions into reality. 

One day distant we shall walk in the shade of those two very large Baobab Trees.