For some, heading back to school in 2025 was an exciting thing to look forward to. Decked out in their crisp uniforms, polished shoes, white socks and book-filled school bags, kids were thrilled to start their new year of learning. However, for others, the prospect of returning to school was much less appealing. Learners with little or no financial means, who are unable to buy school clothes and related accessories, dread having to enter their classrooms. They are often teased, rejected and bullied, making school life a horrible daily ordeal.

Many local initiatives work to support children in this regard, as well as in many other ways. Second Canvas – an after-school initiative that runs activities for kids in the Cape Flats – is one such programme. A V&A staff member, who is a volunteer at this educational programme in Lavender Hill, arranged for learners who are part of Second Canvas to participate in a walking tour of the V&A Waterfront as part of a career-and-innovation initiative. The tour introduced the high-school students to the various career paths available at the Waterfront, and showed them some of the V&A’s unique Cape Town attractions.

Since this outing, it came to the attention of the V&A Waterfront CSI department that 16 kids who are part of Second Canvas required help in acquiring new school clothes. Many of these learners come from single-parent households or are looked after by grandparents, caregivers or the foster-care system, and it was clear that they could benefit from having new uniforms, school bags and other back-to-school items.

The Waterfront team quickly got to work, and gathered some friends who could help make a difference. V&A tenants Sealand and Sexy Socks joined forces with Ackermans to create back-to-school packages for each of these learners. The gift packs were filled with the gear they would need to look the part of proud school kids on a mission to learn. Sealand donated 16 of its drawstring bags made from innovative recycled materials, with a uniform set packaged inside each pouch. These school uniforms were sponsored by the V&A Waterfront (purchased from Ackermans at a discounted rate). Every package included three pairs of school socks from Sexy Socks, whose mission it is to provide every child in South Africa with a pair of socks for school. (For every pair of Sexy Socks sold, the company donates a pair of school socks to a child in need). To top off this surprise, Ackermans gave each learner a gift card to cover additional school items they might need.

The V&A Waterfront is proud to have spearheaded this donation, and is grateful to its partners for their meaningful impact. This sponsorship is proof of our philosophy to do business better, together. By supporting children on their educational journeys, we hope to enhance their well-being and give them the seeds they need to grow into responsible, kind and participative members of society. We are thankful for the work that community programmes such as Second Canvas offer children, and salute them for their initiative.

SECOND CANVAS
Second Canvas is a non-profit social club to which 20 teenagers from several high schools in the Cape Flats/ Lavender Hill area belong. Here, children are given the opportunity to change their perspectives through lifestyle initiatives, mentorship, monthly excursions and educational activities. The NPO, which runs from Hillwood Primary School in Lavender Hill, also provides daily nutrition to 30-40 learners.

GET INVOLVED
If you (or your company) would like to partner with the V&A Waterfront on future projects such as this, or have ideas for other ways in which we can do business better, together, please email us on csi@waterfront.co.za.