Reitumetse Pelo, a Miss Royal Elegance ambassador, gave back to her community, donating stationery packs to the Soweto Kliptown Youth Centre (SKY) on January 17.

The SKY empowers local children through the arts and runs after–school programmes where learners complete homework and projects with help from the team.

“I started to accumulate basic stationery in December, as I had seen the children’s needs.

“This will let them start strong and, hopefully, end the year on a good note, too. I hope this somewhat closes the gap and the children feel confident to tackle their academics,” said Pelo.

The packs included exam pads, rulers, pens, pencils, highlighters, crayons and scissors for grades Five to 12.

Tshepang Mpshe, the secretary of the SKY, said the donation would play a role because most learners come from vulnerable homes that depend on social grants and cannot afford such essentials.

He thanked Pelo, as did the children, telling the Urban News that they would do their schoolwork, knowing they had more than one pen or pencil for the term.