The bags, which have a reinforced flap that is used as a desk, are made from recycled billboard materials and are 100% environmentally friendly, as well as completely waterproof. This means that the billboards are put to better use than simply ending up in landfills.
In 2011, 98 million tons of the 108 million tons of waste produced in South Africa was buried in landfills, and only 10% was recycled, according to the most recent National Waste Information Baseline Report. Landfills are one of the major producers of methane gas which is 21 times worse than carbon dioxide in creating the greenhouse effect that is contributing to climate change.
DeskBags is the corporate social responsibility initiative of Gauteng-based public relations company, PR Worx. The consultancy's Managing Director, Madelain Roscher, who conceived the DeskBags concept, is calling for partnerships from corporate South Africa to help approximately 3.1 million South African school children who don't have access to school desks.
"We'd love to be able to ease the education struggles of thousands of South African children in need of desks and help the environment at the same time, but we need your help. As DeskBags are given free of charge to the children who need them the most, we rely on corporate sponsorship to cover the costs of these bags. By getting involved in our green initiative, you will truly make the world of difference to a child in need," says Roscher.
Aside from contributing to education and a sustainable future, DeskBags also creates jobs in that all the bags are made by previously disadvantaged women from local communities.
For more information on how you can get involved with DeskBags, visit their website www.deskbags.com.
