The Vodacom Foundation in partnership with the Department of Basic Education has kick-started the new year by launching a national stationery drive where Vodacom will provide stationery to 180 000 pupils of Quintile One and Two primary and high schools.
Through this initiative, a total of 60 000 primary school and 120 000 high school pupils across the country will each receive a stationery pack. Each pack comprises a pencil case, pencils, a sharpener, an eraser, ballpoint pens and a ruler. A scientific calculator will also be included in the pack for high school pupils.
The foundation’s Maya Makanjee said, “The key objective of the stationery drive is to support the Department of Basic Education in its mandate by providing support to disadvantaged schools in South Africa.
“Our goal is to ensure that pupils throughout the country have access to some basic tools to start off the new school year.” Vodacom employees across the country have volunteered their time to distribute the stationery packs to the 210 schools nationwide.
Deputy Minister of Basic Education Enver Surty said, “To Vodacom, thank you so much for showing you care for our schoolchildren. Thank you for connecting children to the world through a lifeline of education. The private sector plays a critical role in the provision of much-needed resources.
“The stationery packs that you have given to our children will certainly help them. With limited resources, government cannot do it alone,” he said, pointing out that education was a societal issue and the private sector should come to the party.
