In South Africa alone an estimated 3 million learners attend school every day without the benefit of a classroom desk to work at. The lack of a desk, a writing surface, affects handwriting, concentration and overall academic performance.
In response to this and the greater African need the Tutudesk Campaign has been providing portable school desks to children in Sub Saharan Africa since the launch of the Campaign in 2013.
To date the Tutudesk Campaign has assisted more than 1,4 million learners in 24 African countries. In the last year MySchool was able to contribute 7 000 Tutudesks for learners at under-resourced schools in South Africa. Archbishop, Desmond Tutu, the Campaign’s official patron, said: “I was a barefoot township urchin. I went to school where there were no desks. We sat on benches and when the teacher asked us to write, we knelt down on the floor and used the benches we had been sitting on as desks …. I wish Tutudesks had been available in my day!”
For Youth Day 2015, MySchool is aiming to raise R350 000-00 in order to provide a further 2500 Tutudesks to beneficiaries. Every time a MySchool card is swiped at a participating retailers (Woolworths, Waltons, Toys R Us, Reggie’s and Engen Foodstops) from the 13th to 16th June, R1 will be donated towards the Desmond Tutu Tutudesk Campaign. This donation will be made over and above the contribution already made towards the cardholder’s selected beneficiary.
Results from a comprehensive independent research survey indicated Tutudesk facilitated sharp improvements in multiple areas relating to literacy development and academic performance – 80% of teachers said that learner’s handwriting was easier to read, 77% said that Tutudesk had made learning easier for their students and that they were able to teach more effectively, 76% of teachers advised that Tutudesks had significantly improved the overall learning experience for their pupils and there was an overall 65% improvement in homework delivery.
Tutudesk is a Proudly South African product – locally produced, supporting local employment and the development of our economy. Made from a proprietary blend of premium materials, with every Tutudesk being “child friendly” and highly robust so as to ensure its sustained use in the community over many years. Weighing in at less than 1kg, the Tutudesk is ergonomically designed and sits comfortably on the learner’s lap, providing them with a surface to write on, whether they are sitting on the floor or a chair. They further have a convenient carry handle, which ensures that they are easy to carry between classes and between school and home daily.
By 2020 the Tutudesk Campaign aims to have provided 20 million desks to 20 million children.
This Youth Day join MySchool on a step in that important journey.
Anyone who wishes to support The Tutudesk Campaign further is encouraged to sign up for a MySchool MyVillage MyPlanet card and select them as your beneficiary: https://www.myschool.co.za/supporter/apply/