Amway South Africa donated 1,630 desks to two disadvantaged schools in Soshanguve area, a rural farming community 50 km north from Pretoria. Lesedi Potlana Primary School and MMabana Primary School were chosen due to the urgency of their situation.
With over R2.4 million invested by Amway since 2010, the Amway Tutudesk Campaign was formed to support Desmond Tutu Tutudesk Campaign and its goal to provide 20 million children in Sub-Saharan Africa with mobile lapdesks by the end of 2020.
Mmababa Primary school’s Principal M.S. Molapo is especially grateful as the 700 learners come from families characterized by single parents, child-headed families or HIV/AIDS orphans who live between 5 to 15 kilometers from the school. Most learners depend on the meal that they get from the school. Many of the first graders do not benefit of having attended pre-schools which is clearly reflected in them having difficulties in coping in grade 1. The dedicated teachers of the Mmababa Primary school cater for Sepedi and isiZulu speakers, they are looking forward to see their learners’ progress because of the new Tutudesks.
It is evident that quality and efficiency remain at the top of the Department of Basic Educations (DoBE) priority list. With the local government setting itself a goal to ensure that schools meet the minimum norms and standards for school infrastructure by end of 2016. Amway has been following the call-to-action for the private sector to collaborate with non-governmental organizations in supporting children to receive a solid education, even in schools were infrastructure is a problem.
“Schools need support to create a nurturing environment conducive for learning,” said Raj Parshotam, General Manager of Amway South Africa. “It is for this reason that we chose to support the Tutudesk Campaign as we believe in the value of education and skills development.”
Parshotam notes that writing is a critical tool for learning as it helps children to absorb knowledge, impacting them throughout their life. With an unemployment rate of 26% in South Africa, he points out that a good education foundation is critical to the future success of South Africa.
“Principals, across all of the schools touched by the partnership to date, agree that pupils are more eager to learn and go to school if they have their own desk to sit behind as they feel empowered to learn. It instills pride, a sense of ownership but also a sense of belonging,” according to Shane Immelman, Founder & COO of The Desmond Tutu Tutudesk Campaign Centre NPC.
