Each day, hundreds of learners pass through the gates of Umhloti Primary School in Coniston, Verulam, relying on the school not only for education, but for daily stability and support. In 2026, that responsibility is being reinforced through a growing local initiative led by Devmco Group and supported by community partners, focused on strengthening the school and improving conditions for the children who depend on it.

This community upliftment initiative was launched in 2025 in response to pressing infrastructure and resource needs at the non-fee-paying school, which serves learners from surrounding informal settlements. While Devmco Group continues to coordinate the programme, the progress achieved to date reflects a collective effort involving locally based businesses, suppliers, and individuals who have contributed time, resources and expertise.

On Friday, 6 February 2026, the school marked a key milestone with the handover of donations valued at thousands of rands, concluding the most recent phase of work. These contributions have enabled targeted upgrades to essential facilities, improving safety, functionality, and dignity across the school environment, and supporting both learning and daily meal preparation. The initiative is structured in phases to address immediate needs while planning for longer-term support. The next phase will include the handover of school uniforms to learners, with further efforts underway to secure school shoes and continue equipping the school kitchen to better meet daily operational requirements.

Beyond infrastructure improvements, the initiative has placed emphasis on presence and participation. Partners and contributors have been encouraged to attend handovers, spend time at the school, and engage directly with learners and educators, to reinforce a shared sense of responsibility for the school’s wellbeing. “For learners, seeing people from their own community show up for them makes a lasting difference,” said Brad Winstanley, Commercial Director at Devmco Group. “This initiative is about creating a platform where collaboration leads to practical outcomes. It’s not about ownership, but about shared commitment to the communities in which we operate.”

Devmco Group is encouraging further involvement from local businesses, suppliers, and individuals who wish to support upcoming phases of the initiative, or who are interested in applying a similar collaborative approach within their own communities. The work at Umhloti Primary School remains ongoing, with additional phases planned as needs continue to be identified and community support grows.