Local business Kasi Industrialized has dedicated itself to help refurbish old school desks and also repair broken chairs in at least 100 public schools in Benoni and surroundings.
The Crystal Park-based business has refurbished 60 desks for a school in Soweto.
They have also refurbished 208 desks in three primary schools in Wattville, namely Lesabe, Ekukhanyeni, and Isaac Makau primary schools, in November last year.
MD Zandi Mbethe said given the vast challenges faced by the majority of public schools, they have embarked on this project to contribute towards creating a conducive learning environment for children in marginalised communities by giving old desks a second chance.
“It takes a village to raise a child, no child deserves to sit on a broken desk or learn on a loose or incomplete desk, others sit on the floor with no desk or chair,” said Mbethe.
“We are calling on communities, parents, teachers, youth (past learners who know the state of their previous schools’ infrastructure) to contact us to speak out. Tell your story and be heard.”
Mbethe said the community of Ekurhuleni needs to work together to revitalise the township amenities for school learners see 100 public schools maintained, old desks refurbished, or broken chairs repaired.
“The call will be open for 30 days; thereafter a database will be compiled of the first 100 schools that responded to the call,” she said.
“The second phase will be a call to local business owners and corporates in Benoni to support a school with their maintenance or refurbishment needs.”
Kasi Industrialized is a 100 per cent black woman and youth-owned and managed (level 1 BBBEE accredited, 135 per cent contributor) start-up company based in Ekurhuleni which manufactures handmade wooden furniture for household and office use.
The business will refurbish old desks, repair broken chairs or other maintenance works as a service to any businesses whose corporate social responsibility programs are aimed at assisting schools.
Mbethe added that they will collaborate with local women and youth owned businesses to render maintenance services.
The team members for this project are Thulani Nhlapo, a mechanical technologist, Sandile Makhaye, a mechanical engineer, and Nkosinathi Nhlapo, a qualified automotive technician.
For your school to benefit from this initiative, the following details are needed:
• Name and address of the school
• Contact person
• Number of desks (broken, no desktop) – indicate number each: long – L1200xW450mm, medium – L1000xW450mm and single – L750xW450.
• Number of plastic chairs that need replacement or fastening of loose screws (note broken plastic seats cannot be refurbished).
• Cracked or broken windows, walls, repainting work needed, or cutting of lawns or gardening.
Details can be emailed to Mbethe at info@kasi-industrialized.org or zandimbethe@gmail.com or visit their Facebook page: Kasi Industrialized Pty Ltd
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