EVATON.- The Tshiamiso Astronauts, a nonprofit organisation based in Evaton West is giving back to the community.
The organisation’s members currently cover school book for pupils in the area for free.
Speaking to Sedibeng Ster, Fikile Zulu, the organisations’ Senior Graphic Designer and Social Media Coordinator who currently heads the campaign, said that the campaign came from a conversation she had with one of the teachers at Chief Bambatha Primary late last year.
“I then realised we had a problem in our schools that needed to be addressed. I pitched the idea, (of the campaign), to my team and they approved it,” she said, adding that, the campaign’s objectives are to provide learners from disadvantaged homes with covered and protected school books for the academic year, relieve financial burdens on families, and to promote equitable access to quality education.
“”This increases classroom engagement. Learners with covered books are more likely to participate confidently in class, and also it gives learners from disadvantaged home the same foundational tools as their peers, fostering equity in the classroom. This campaign aims to boost the learner’s confidence and sense of belonging.”
Zulu said that to pilot the project, they started working with Chief Bambatha Primary School from January 15, when schools opened this year. “We still have more schools to go to, provided we have enough materials and volunteers. Through generous sponsors, we have managed to cover a total of 1067 books since the inception of the campaign.”
Tshiamiso Astronauts promotes and fosters education and knowledge in the community through various literacy programmes and initiatives such as ,Spelling Bee competitions, reading clubs, homework assistance program and they also assist with university and college applications.
“Our core values are reading, education, inclusion, psychosocial wellness and sustainability,” Zulu ends.
