Recent protests in the Vuwani area of Limpopo have resulted in twenty-four schools being torched - five are partially damaged while nineteen are badly damaged. This has affected and left sixty thousand pupils without infrastructure, including classrooms, desks, chairs, and textbooks. Not for Profit Company (NPC), DeskBags, calls on corporate South Africa to partner with them in alleviating the immediate needs of these learners.
“By supplying learners in Vuwani with DeskBags, we can ensure that they are still able to learn and get ready for their first term assessments as our bags can serve as a portable desk while the Department of Education re-establishes infrastructure,” say DeskBags managing director, Shannon Roscher. “But we cannot do this alone as DeskBags is reliant on the support of corporate sponsors to cover the production costs of the bags. It is only through this involvement that we can supply needy learners and schools with these bags free of charge.”
Further, according to Minister of Basic Education, Angie Motsheka, millions of South African children do not have school desks and are forced to learn while seated or kneeling on dusty floors, and using the ground as a writing surface.
DeskBags is an innovative solution to this South Africa challenge as the company provides school bags that double as desks when folded open onto a child's lap. The bag flap is reinforced with ABS plastic, ensuring a hard and stable surface for children to write on to do their lessons and homework at school or at home.
“Our three phase intervention in easing the educational burden currently felt by learners in Vuwani will begin by supplying DeskBags to the affected matriculants so that they do not fall behind any further,” continues Roscher. “Sponsorship costs as little as R150 per DeskBag and anyone can get involved.”
These special bags also provide a downstream income to women from underprivileged backgrounds, providing them with a means to earn a sustainable living and gain independence. Because of this, each bag is constructed with infinite care and is so strong and durable that if looked after well, it can last a child many productive years.
For more information about DeskBags and how you can contribute to their efforts, you can visit www.deskbags.co.za or contact them directly on info@deskbags.co.za or 011 896 1818.
