The Typek campaign was flighted on eTV earlier in 2024, when parents' time is traditionally consumed by the frantic rush to get their children school-ready, says Sappi.
"Sappi has for many years prioritised literacy and education in its support for local communities and is just one of the ways in which Sappi actively supports Quality Education, one of the 17 Sustainable Development Goals," says Beryl Traoré, social impact lead for Sappi Southern Africa.
"For us, quality education is not just about imparting knowledge; it is about empowering individuals to reach their full potential and create a brighter future for themselves by giving them the necessary resources and creating safe spaces that make learning conducive," Traoré adds.
According to Sappi, the campaign saw 15 lucky people each receiving a R1 000 shopping voucher. Entrants were also asked to nominate a worthy school to receive generous donation of 1 tonne (80 boxes) of Sappi Typek paper.
Ashdown Primary School in Edendale was selected as the recipient school by Pietermaritzburg resident Candice Piek, one of the voucher winners. Piek had consulted Caitlin Hull from Cordwalles Preparatory School for Boys, which has had 16-year partnership with Ashdown.
Sappi says that over the years, Cordwalles has undertaken several initiatives at Ashdown, like:
- purchasing and installing JoJo tanks
- servicing and repairing the kitchen, bathrooms and classrooms, and
- donating a range of resources like books, sports items and seeds for the kitchen garden.
Ncane Gambu, acting principal at Ashdown Primary School, says, "We are extremely thankful to Sappi for donating not only paper but also much-needed resources to our school. I can't express how grateful we are to Sappi for this support."
As part of Sappi's employee volunteerism programme — 'Show Your Heart' — the Sappi Forests team based in Pietermaritzburg shared their expertise with the donation and planting of some indigenous Pepperbark (Warburgia) trees at the school.
Sappi adds that eager learners were able to discover the importance of environmental stewardship and the vital role trees play in the ecosystem.
Sappi also provided comfortable outdoor tables and benches, creating enhanced spaces for the children to enjoy their lunches as part of Ashdown's feeding scheme. Eating utensils were also supplied.