Stationery for schools in need

Located mainly in previously disadvantaged communities, the schools were identified as recipients by Edcon in collaboration with its partners in government. The donation forms part of the company's ongoing commitment to contribute a portion of its corporate social investment funds to government's key priority areas.

The first schools to benefit from the stationery distribution were in the Gauteng and Western Cape, with the roll out to other provinces scheduled to take place in the next few weeks.

The company will hand over 700 000 items in total. The supply includes pens, pencils, exam pads, files and rulers worth R2,4 million. The value of the supplies given to Moloto in Mpumalanga is R70 000 and that to Thohoyandou, in Limpopo, is R20 000. The stationery includes much-needed writing and reading materials that learners and educators can utilise effectively to support their curriculum requirements, as identified by the schools' principals.

This latest donation follows close on the heels of R2 million  given recently towards the construction of an  operating theatre  at Red Cross Children's Hospital  in Cape Town, one of only three children's hospitals on the entire African  continent.

“It is through donations like this that we can strengthen our partnerships with our communities and the government,” concluded Laverne Leibrandt, group stakeholder relations manager.