THE start of a new school year is a time of good and negative feelings for school kids.
While some arrive with new uniforms, pens and books, some don’t have the books and school uniforms they need. This is because, for many parents, school equipment is beyond their means . . .
This is where BIC steps in as they have been doing for the past seven years.
Thomas Mathavha, principal of Mvelaphanda Primary School, in Tembisa, said: “We are happy to benefit from BIC this year. Khaya FM adopted us some time ago and this year they came to school with good news in the form of donations.
“We hope this will help us fight poverty in the area. The majority of our kids come from needy families so the donation will help them achieve our goal of educating our future leaders.”
Since 2011, the “Buy a Pen, Donate a Pen” programme has distributed 7,3 million pens to schools that need them.
“So far 2 000 pens were donated to our pupils and teachers,” said Mathavha.
Most of the charity stationery is handed out to primary schools for use in the foundation stage of learning. This is a critical time in terms of growth for children’s brains and thinking skills as well as social, emotional and physical development.
Last year, one of the schools that benefited from the programme was Eclah Educational Centre, based in Newtown, Joburg.
The 100 children at the centre’s pre-school come from disadvantaged families in Soweto, Newtown and Fordsburg. The majority of the parents don’t work and they rely on child grants to survive.
Eclah received stationery from BIC, which included pens, pencils, colouring books and other products.
School principal Edith Monareng said that the stationery made a huge difference to the school as they were able to run activities with the kids that they hadn’t been able to do in the past.
“We can teach them drawing, colouring, painting and creative design. These are activities that are key to unlocking their creativity. BIC powers the pupils potential by enabling teachers to teach the kids with the correct tools.”
Brainwave, a non-profit organisation specialising in advising teachers, has received more than 700 000 pens over the past few years from the programme.
Brainwave helps teachers become child developers and not just caregivers. They provide English and maths education to the kids as well as motivate them to reach their full potential.
