Smart Desks for Soweto school to level playing field
"Research has shown that by having a designated homework space, a child's academic performance increases by 48%.”
Mayibuye Primary School is the latest recipient of the ground breaking and innovative Smart Desks set to revolutionise what education looks like for some of the poorest communities in townships and rural areas across the country.
The collaborative efforts between the Empire Partner Foundation together with Midesk Global delivered 50 Smart Desks to the learning institution in Soweto.
The desks are an innovative backpack and wheelie school bag ensemble that converts into a desk and chair with a solar light, USB charging portal and a chair.
The organisation said through the initiative, it was making significant strides towards closing the educational gap and initiating transformative change within townships.
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“Mayibuye Primary School is a quintile two school. Many of the children from this school face challenges of poverty and are therefore hindered from success due to lack of infrastructure at the school and at home to do their homework.
“The initiative is a commitment to driving sustainable economic empowerment to empower and uplift underserved communities,” Midesk Global CEO Farana Boodhram said.
Midesk, founded in 2018 by Boodhram aims to address some of the United Nations’ Sustainable Development Goals in accordance with the 2030 agenda.
This is through the partnership, whose mission through MiDesk is to eradicate poverty by creating a fair playing field for children globally, ensuring that they have the opportunity to become well educated leaders of tomorrow.
“Each MiDesk lasts 12 years which equates to the entirety of a child’s schooling career. It gives them the opportunity to stay in school and succeed, not only breaking their cycle of poverty, but their family and community around them too.
“Research has shown that by having a designated homework space, a child’s academic performance increases by 48%.”
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Research by UNESCO has shown that 95 million children in Africa, of which three million in South Africa do not have access to desks. Not having a basic necessity such as a desk to write on affects a child’s handwriting, homework delivery, concentration and overall academic performance.
Teacher at the school, Nthabiseng Raseroka added, “When I interacted with the CEO and she showed me what their company was doing, I instantly loved the idea because I immediately thought of homework desks for my learners.
“I imagined our learners being able to complete their homework at home especially during the time of load shedding and being in a community where some can’t always afford to buy electricity.
“Some stay in shacks with no space so this as their work space will enable our learners to be able to complete their work in time and breed a love for education.”
