Capespan, Tilbury Container Services, Maersk Line, Harwood Shipping and Simpson Transport have joined together to support charity School-Aid and supply equipment and educational materials to South African schools.
The charity’s mission is to provide practical support to education in under-privileged areas of Africa. It is able to supply books and surplus educational items that are gathered by volunteers in the UK. Capespan co-ordinates free collection of the materials, as well as their containerisation and shipment with its logistics partners.
The first of the containers planned for this year was discharged from SAF Nomazwe in Cape Town on Sunday. The shipment contained not only books and stationery, but also art supplies, school furniture and cricket equipment. These are being distributed to primary and secondary schools in Cape Town and the metropolitan areas of Gauteng Province.
Mark Harris, Capespan logistics manager, said: “Although Capespan and Maersk have been supporters of School-Aid for a number of years now, I am particularly excited by the way the relationship is developing. Historically, School-Aid has concentrated almost exclusively on helping schools within the metropolitan areas of South Africa.
“This year, with more containers made available by Maersk and expanded co-operation between Capespan and School-Aid representatives in South Africa, we also plan to supply materials to schools in rural areas for the first time. It is fantastic that fruit production areas will now also benefit from the charity’s activities.”
A further three containers are planned for 2009.
No comments yet