On Saturday, 11 March, 30 of South Africa’s most prominent women took to the stage to compete for one of eight highly sought-after awards. Shannon, who completed a BA-degree in communication science and psychology at the Vanderbijlpark Campus of the NWU in 2013, participated in the Youth Ambassador category.
This annual Woman of the Year Awards are not limited to any particular field or endeavour, and for this reason rank among the most prestigious awards in South Africa for women. Launched in April 2013, Woman of Stature’s purpose is to inspire and empower women from all walks of life, as well as to raise awareness and much needed funds for charities through various projects and fund raising initiatives.
Shannon says: “Changing the world seems like a pipe dream to everyone, but to me it is not a dream, I will leave my legacy behind and I will make this world a better place because everyone deserves to have their own piece of heaven on earth.” She furthermore encourages other young people to pursue their dreams. “I know it’s a terrifying thing to start something, especially when you don’t have a full-time job, but push through, because at the end of the day it is the most beautiful and rewarding experience ever.”
A passion for children and education
As the co-founder and managing director of DeskBags – a non-profit organisation that produces functional, eco-friendly schoolbags that also provide a portable desk solution, Shannon is a go-getter with a passion for children and education.
“It gives me great pleasure knowing that DeskBags is making a noticeable difference in many of the lives of the estimated 3,1 million learners without proper school desks in South Africa. I am a firm believer that education is the vaccine to poverty,” says Shannon and adds that recognition should also be given to corporate South Africa for helping to make a sustainable change in the lives of future leaders.
A DeskBag is a hybrid satchel that acts as a fully functional schoolbag which folds open into a portable desk that learners can use at school and at home. The bags are waterproof, reflective, and light enough for pre-primary scholars to use. It is furthermore made from 100 percent recyclable billboard materials. Through corporate sponsorships, DeskBags are donated to needy schools free of charge.
How it all started
Shannon says she got the idea to create DeskBags when she visited an informal settlement with her mother – Madelain Roscher, to do charity work. “We saw all these children walking around with a plastic bag and a make-shift desk, like an ice cream tub or piece of cardboard,” explains Shannon. This sight had her and her mother thinking of how they could help these learners and possibly make a positive difference in their school experience. According to Shannon, that was the day that DeskBags was created.
In Africa, there are as many as 95 million school going children who do not have the benefit of working from a desk. In South Africa, the statistics are equally alarming with over 3,1 million scholars being forced to use the ground as a writing surface by kneeling or sitting on the floor to try to write on their lap, which means they are tired, uncomfortable and dirty as they try to learn. The resulting discomfort and frustration are enormous barriers to these struggling children’s educational goals, which have no choice but to achieve in order to lift themselves out of the poverty cycle.
“While building structured classrooms and providing enough tables and chairs would be ideal, it simply costs too much and would require substantial logistical and organisational input from government and the private sector alike,” says Shannon and adds that DeskBags offer a multifaceted solution: not only is it relative cheap to produce, but also easy to implement. Other spin-offs include:
- Job creation
DeskBags are exclusively manufactured by previously disadvantaged women who are either disabled, formerly unemployed or, as in many instances, have suffered abuse.
- Environmentally friendly
DeskBags are eco-friendly and highly affordable. The product is made from recycled vinyl billboards – keeping toxic PVC materials out of landfill sites, ensuring environmental sustainability and a reduced carbon footprint.
- Corporate support
Through the support of corporates and in collaboration with the Department of Education (DoE) DeskBags are deployed to poverty-stricken areas.
* To date about 100 000 children have benefited from DeskBags.
Shannon Roscher, alumna of the NWU Vaal, was announced the 2017 Woman of Stature: Youth Ambassador. She is the co-founder and managing director of DeskBags – a non-profit organisation that produces functional, eco-friendly schoolbags that also provide a portable desk solution.
