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According to the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organisation (UNESCO) research reporting, Africa needs 90 million desks to accommodate learner education, with South Africa's deficit accounting for three million of these. This desk shortage is one of the key elements required for improved learner education on the continent.

Archbishop Desmond Tutu experienced this same difficulty during his own childhood education, and knows first-hand just how much of a challenge this is.

"I went to school where there were no desks," said Tutu, affectionately known as the "Arch". "When the teacher asked us to write something we knelt on the floor and used the benches we had been sitting on as desks."

To help with the problem, and improve the education prospects for learners, the Archbishop Desmond Tutu launched the TutuDesk Campaign in 2011. The objective is to provide 20 million children in South Africa and across the African continent with Lapdesks by the end of 2015.

The Lapdesks are lightweight, durable, child-safe desks which children place around their bodies. This provides an effective writing surface whether they are in the classroom, under a tree or at home.

Shibishi Maruatona, Head of Public Policy and Corporate Affairs at General Motors South Africa, met with Archbishop Desmond Tutu to pledge the company’s ongoing support to his campaign. Shibe then went on to hand out 370 Lapdesks to pupils at the Intshinga Primary School in Gugulethu on Thursday, 16 September.

“We are committed to supporting the community in which we operate by supporting sustainable educational projects and to this end have already donated over 5000 Lapdesks to a number of schools in the Eastern Cape, Western Cape and Gauteng regions” said Maruatona.

"As a result of these donations, General Motors contributes to the literacy development of pupils, which has the potential to fundamentally change learning outcomes”, said Archbishop Tutu.

Photo caption 1 :
Archbishop Desmond Tutu handing over a signed Lapdesk to Shibishi Maruatona (Head of Public Policy & Corporate Affairs, General Motors South Africa)

Photo caption 2 :
Archbishop Desmond Tutu handing over a signed Lapdesk to (left) Shibishi Maruatona, Head of Public Policy & Corporate Affairs and (right) Michelle Wilson, Public Relations Officer of General Motors South Africa