Schoolchildren of Diepsloot who did not have school desks received DeskBags.
This was thanks to Converse SA who handed over the DeskBags to about 1 500 schoolchildren on 31 January.
The shoe company became aware that Diepsloot Secondary No 3 school and Diepsloot Combined School have been in need of school desks for a number of years. The schoolchildren were forced to do their schoolwork on cold hard floors or share a single desk with other children.
“The DeskBags are a means to provide the schoolchildren with a tool to learn with dignity, but most importantly to learn to their full capabilities,” Converse brand and marketing coordinator, Lee-Anne McKenzie said.
She added that the company strove to partner with initiatives that assisted local communities throughout South Africa. “In the last few years, we have donated nearly 5 000 DeskBags in Gauteng. We love that the initiative allows desk-less schoolchildren to now learn with dignity.”
Managing director of DeskBags, Shannon Roscher said the initiative was aimed at enabling underprivileged schoolchildren to have access to basic educational tools such as a portable desk allowing them to develop to their fullest potential.
“The lack of a desk as a writing surface puts these underprivileged schoolchildren at an immediate disadvantage as it affects their handwriting, concentration, eyesight and most noticeably, their overall academic performance,” she said.
Roscher added that the bags were specifically designed to be tough and durable. “They are rugged enough that, when well looked after, can last a pupil many years. They have been constructed using recycled billboard materials making the bags tough and waterproof yet light enough to be carried even by a Grade 0 schoolchild. DeskBags are also reflective which makes schoolchildren visible when walking along busy roads.”
She said the bags cost R200 each and corporates were encouraged to support needy schools in their areas of operation and could sponsor a class, a grade or preferably an entire school.
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