Galway Connect project acknowledged by DOE The current state of education in our country, is one of many pain points that need to be addressed. The irony is that education of a high standard today, can remedy many of the other problems that our country is facing, in the future. In partnership with Macsteel, the Galway Connect Project aims at bringing together role players in support of Galway Primary School, based in Germiston. Developing research suggests that introducing Public Private Partnerships (PPPs) in the education sector significantly improves the quality of education. The hypothesis in this school of thought is that, through resource sharing, private entities can contribute to community development. Private entities can therefore transfer knowledge according to their areas of core competency - ranging from finance and management to legal expertise – so that the quality of education is amplified at the school. It is against the backdrop of this research that Macsteel stepped up to partner with Galway Primary School and launched the Galway Connect project in 2018. Today Galway Connect is one of several education projects that is supported by Macsteel, but certainly the most successful, recently presented with the esteemed Service Excellence Award securing the third spot in the prestigious Emerald: Business and Social Partners 2023, category. “This accolade is a resounding testament to the transformative power of the public-private partnership we embarked upon six years ago, profoundly enriching both the educational landscape and the communities it serves,” says Mike Benfield, Chief Executive Officer of Macsteel. By promoting active participation and collaboration within the community, Galway Connect aims to establish sustainable support structures for all learners at the school. A steering committee, comprised of various stakeholders in and around the school, was created to facilitate the project’s processes. Their shared vision is to ensure that each learner at Galway Primary School receives an invaluable education through Galway Connect’s collaborative communal effort.