Bright Future Schools programme took a new turn on Tuesday when it featured an art exhibition by pupils from township primary schools.
The thought provoking and inspiring exhibition which was held at the Shine Studios showcased future dreams of pupils from township schools.
An initiative by Unilever, the Bright Future Schools Programme is aimed at improving the lives of school children in this country and make their dreams a reality.
This is done through improving sanitation and getting rid of related infections in schools. Unilever currently has a variety of school programmes which have reached over 2 million pupils in this country.
These programmes are spearhead by brands such as Domestos and Lifebuoy and they are all focusing on hygiene and ensuring pupil’s health is taken care of at schools.
The Bright Future Schools Programme integrates all these programmes with an aim of creating one holistic offering which goes beyond sanitation and health to improved mathematics skills.
Unilever’s CEO Paul Polman said, “Our vision is to create a bright future for all South Africans, reaching 15 million people by 2020. We can’t do that alone.
“Our partnerships with UNICEF and the Department of Basic Education will allow us to scale up the work we’ve been doing to address some major problems and create an even bigger impact. This is a watershed moment where we are all taking action to achieve real change.”
The programme according to Polman is in line with the National Development Plan and the United Nation’s Sustainable Development Goals.
MEC for education Panyaza Lesufi expressed his excitement with his department’s involvement in the project and said it will help pupils reach their full potential.
“We know that many of our schools are having difficulty with sanitation issues and through these programmes, we can teach children good hygiene habits that will allow them to be at school and get the education they need.
“There must be no child in South Africa who can’t realise their dreams due to limitations that can be defeated,” said Lesufi.
I See a Different which, a team of young creatives and trendsetters from Soweto made the exhibition possible through their photography skills.
They are known for their distinctive style of telling South African Stories through their lenses.
“We thought this would just be another shoot, but when we started working with the kids, they really blew us away.
“They are so smart and so curious. They have such big ambitions. The experience reminded us of when we were young and encouraged us to stay youthful and inspired,” said Justice Mukheli from I See a Different You.
The exhibition was aimed at raising awareness about the Bright Future Schools Programme while at the same time highlighting challenges faced by pupils in township schools in reaching their dreams.
