The Projekt Ubuntu team is asking the community to help provide stationery boxes for 100-150 children this Christmas. Pictured is Yonela Msutu, the media and communications coordinator, with children from the centre celebrating Heritage Day.
Projekt Ubuntu, a local non-profit, is calling on the community to support its annual Christmas Stationery Boxes campaign.
Now in its third year, this project provides essential school supplies to children from under-resourced families who attend the Ubuntu Centre in Masiphumelele.
The project ensures that these children start the new school year equipped and ready for success.
“Our goal is to support 100 to 150 children this year,” says Busisiwe Banda, community project coordinator of Projekt Ubuntu.
She added: “These boxes will go to children from both our after-school programme and the Ubuntu Centre, where many of our students are based. We focus on giving primary and high school students the tools they need to thrive.”
What started as a Christmas gift drive has since shifted focus after Ms Banda and her team realised the greater need for school supplies.
“We initially gave toys and sweets but soon realised they didn’t have a lasting impact,” she said.
“Discussions with parents and community leaders highlighted that stationery was an urgent need, especially as many families struggle to afford school supplies at the beginning of the year,” she added.
Each box contains essential items like notebooks, pens, pencils, glue sticks, and rulers.
High school pupils get additional supplies such as highlighters, maths sets, and, if funding permits, calculators.
“It’s more than just stationery,” Ms Banda said. “It’s about empowering children to feel prepared and confident as they begin the new school year.”
The programme is funded through a combination of local donations and international support.
According to Ms Banda, a former volunteer raised enough funds through a social media campaign last year to provide 60 stationery boxes
“The response was amazing,” Ms Banda said. “It’s proof of how quickly people come together when they see the difference they can make.”
For many parents, the support provides much-needed financial relief.
“The cost of stationery can be overwhelming, especially for families without steady income,” says Phatiswa Pali, known as Mama Phat, a parent whose children attend the after-school programme.
“These boxes ease that burden and make the kids excited for school.”
Community members can contribute by donating new or gently used stationery or making a financial donation.
“Even spreading the word online makes a difference,” Ms Pali says. “Every little bit helps, and together we can make a big impact.”
Projekt Ubuntu helps local families and children through various initiatives. The Ubuntu Centre in Masiphumelele offers early childhood and after-school programmes, along with school supplies and learning resources. They also provide health awareness, vaccination assistance, and organise environmental clean-ups.
If you’d like to support Projekt Ubuntu’s Christmas efforts, contact Busisiwe Banda at ubuntucommunitymedia@gmail.com.