Rabia Mayet | rabiamayet@radioislam.co.za

08 April 2026

5-minute read

“A desk is not just a piece of furniture – it’s the foundation of learning,” says Talita Boodhram, Chief Impact Officer at MiDesk, A UNESCO-endorsed NGO. As we reflect in April on the importance of human dignity and equal opportunity, we turn our attention to a challenge still facing millions of learners across South Africa.

More than 2.3 million children in over 10,000 schools begin their day without something as basic as a desk. For many, this means sitting on cold floors, balancing books on their laps, and trying to complete homework in poor lighting conditions, denied the basic conditions to learn. Many children walk to school with heavy backpacks, share desks with their fellow students, and then come home where challenges like no electricity and no workspace mean that they cannot do their homework and achieve their full potential.

Talita says that her passion for education began when, watching the news with her dad, she saw a segment on children who had no desks at school. This prompted her to design a desk at home for her science project, and at just 16 years old, Talita won first place at the Science Fair.

Seeing the potential of the desk to make an impact in the lives of underprivileged children, Talita’s mum added the solar light feature, had the product aligned with the sustainable development goals and began marketing the desk under the MiDesk label. Talita finished her studies and joined her mum, and together they’ve reached over 5300 children in South Africa across more than 65 schools.

So what is MiDesk? MiDesk is a wheeled schoolbag that opens up into a desk and a chair equipped with a USB charging portal and a solar light. It has a 12-year lifespan, is adjustable in height to serve every school-age, is manufactured from recycled material, and is lightweight for small children and durable for older ones. Kids can pack their stuff into it, wheel it to school and then open it up into a desk – a perfect working space. At home, they can do the same thing when doing their homework.

MiDesk has shown the consistent impact of having a basic learning resource. “Focus, attendance, confidence and performance” improves when children have something as simple as a desk, says Talita. It allows children to feel that education is worth investing in, and many parents have noticed that with a comfortable space to write on, their kids have even become excited about doing homework.

The impact of having a desk is “definitely measurable,” states Talita. According to stats by UNESCO, the impact of not having the right equipment or environment in which to learn has a definite impact on a child’s learning performance. MiDesk’s own “independently verified monitoring and evaluation assessment,” across the schools they provided with the desk reported improved classroom focus, attendance, and maths performance, as well as better handwriting.

The right to education in SA means “safety, dignity, and a proper learning environment.” When they have the correct tools to learn, Talita says that “that right becomes real.” She has found that it is more a lack of awareness than a lack of empathy when it comes to education conditions in the country. People who see the lived realities of learners at school can begin to create opportunities for these children.

The South African Constitution guarantees every child the right to learn in a safe and supportive environment. Government does rely on NGOS and private individuals to fill the gap, but they should be doing more to help children who are under-resourced. Talita says that they advocate for more spending in education instead of less. Along with sponsors from around the world, MiDesk partners with Department of Basic Education and the Department of Science and Innovation to reach the most in-need and vulnerable schools.

Something as simple as a desk, combined with access to light, can transform a learner’s experience — improving focus, boosting confidence, and even enhancing academic performance. Talita Boodhram continues working to restore dignity in classrooms and help bridge the education gap. To find out more, visit www.midesk@global.com

Listen to the full interview with Faaiza Munshi and Talita Boodhram here.