Zimasa Grade 1 pupils given their own space to learn
Every morning the principal of Zimasa Community School in Langa stands at the gate greeting the children as they arrive for school.
Often Fezile Mguqulwa finds himself holding back the tears as many children arrive without shoes or without proper uniforms. And many of them will go into a classroom where they won’t have their own chair and desk to work at.
That’s why he was overcome with joy last Friday, August 23, when Grade 1 pupils were each given a cleverly designed contraption which transforms into a desk and chair - and which they can easily carry with them to school and back. This way they have a dedicated place to work both at school and home.
Called a MiDesk backpack, it also has a USB charging port and solar light.
Talita Boodhram, chief marketing and sales officer at MiDesk Global, created the desk at the age of 16 while working on a science project. The idea was sparked by watching news with her father, when she saw pupils studying under a tree without a desk she said.
“So we got into a discussion about it and it really affected us, so we made the first prototype which was made out of boxes that we put together for science fair, and it won gold at science fair,” said Ms Boodhram.
She added that her mother Farana Boodhram who is MiDesk’s founder and CEO, saw potential in her project and the impact it would have on children.
“So by not having a desk a child's writing is affected, their focus, their concentration, homework delivery and their academic ability are affected,” added Ms Boodhram.
She added that they work with quintile one and two schools which are non fee-paying which are mostly in need of infrastructure.
Selvo Moodle who is a head of quality at Games Global said they sponsor MiDesk “because we believe we have a responsibility to give back to our community, to uplift them and genuinely partner with them.”
Mr Mguqulwa said the day was very important to him as he always thinks about the future of his pupils.
“Our future depends on these kids. My belief is that whatever that you do, you are preparing for a better tomorrow, a better tomorrow means a lot, it starts there,” added Mr Mguqulwa.
Explaining why he greets the pupils at the gate every morning, he said he does it so that he can observe those who are in need so he can ask for donations from those who can lend a hand.
But, he also has to be realistic. And in his community, crime is a reality. So, he said, he had asked the parents that the pupils keep the MiDesk at school, because if they go home with them they might be robbed of them and maybe damaged.