Reigning Miss South Africa has launched her advocacy campaign Ed-unite on Thursday the 13th of October 2022.
The launch included a panel discussion with former Public Protector, and current Law Trust Chair in social justice at Stellenbosch University, Professor Thuli Madonsela, Wits SRC President Cebolenkosi Samuel Khumalo and several school students.
The beauty queen has always been passionate about equal education opportunities and pledged to help ensure an equal playing field for all learners at her crowning in August.
She expressed that she had the opportunity to go from a rural Tzaneen village classroom to a better-resourced one in Polokwane. That is when she realised that education is unequal. She had come from a school depleted in every way to an environment conducive to learning. Ndavi acknowledges that she would not have reached her true potential without this opportunity.
In implementing her Ed-Unite campaign, the Miss South Africa title holder will play the role of convenor, linking like-minded groups to act in concert as they redress the inequalities of the past.
Ndavi will act as a conduit between big corporations, foundations and schools in need, ensuring that businesses with services and finances to spend on Corporate Social Investment are partnered.
“South Africa currently has the highest inequality rates globally. Having been exposed to extreme poverty as a child and thereafter being granted the opportunity to attend advantaged schools, I witnessed the negative effects of the great and unfair divide in this country. My mission is to bridge that gap,” Ndavi said at the event on Thursday.
She also stated that, “It is fundamental that every young person is given the opportunity to cultivate their talents, intelligence and skills, regardless of their background. This will enable us to reduce inequality by tackling the root causes of unemployment in South Africa,” added Ndavi.
Ed-Unite will have as its leading partner the Adopt-a-School Foundation (AASF), and, by default, Ndavi will become an AASF ambassador. It has also partnered with the Cyril Ramaphosa Education Trust (CRET).
Ndavi concluded: “I want to set a target and reach a point where R6 million has been donated, spent or reserved for projects that Ed-Unite is involved in by mid-January 2023.”
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How the Ed-unite campaign will work
The reigning Miss SA, has identified a list of campaigns, each with an area that needs to be tackled, and will match all campaigns with independent associate partners to provide the required resources and expertise in their field or industry to fulfil the needs.
1. Period Poverty: Forever New has pledged R600 000 to supply sanitary pads across all nine provinces through the Adopt-a-School Foundation’s database to help tackle the issue of period poverty as another barrier to education. The aim is to raise more funds for different school needs.
2. Bursaries/Financial Aid: Start an independent bursary fund to help at least five learners get a tertiary qualification in their field or industry of choice.
3. Resource Provision: Tech support by raising funds for laptops or desks in schools. Aim to improve connectivity by providing the needed infrastructure and resources.
4. Infrastructure: Refurbish classrooms, bathrooms, playgrounds, etc.
5. Training: Fund training and workshops for teachers.
6. Sport: Supply gym equipment, assist in refurbishing sports fields/grounds, sports development training classes and funds for coaches.
7. Skills development: Short courses for those unable to obtain tertiary qualifications.
8. Agriculture: Planting gardens, teaching about food security through self-sufficiency.
9. Health Education: Learning about nutrition, hygiene, etc.
10. Career guidance and advice: Where possible, attend career guidance expos and assist in connecting industry professionals with learners needing information on career options.
Ndavi also called upon “corporate South Africa” to join in her endeavour to “change the future of as many young people within the educational space as possible.”
