BIC® Powers the Potential of 7.3 million children through their ‘Buy a pen, Donate a pen’ programme

Power their Potential

https://za.bicworld.com/

BIC® Powers the Potential of 7.3 million children through their ‘Buy a pen, Donate a pen’ programme

Monday, 11 December 2017.  This week marks the end of the 2017 school year with millions of children looking forward to five weeks of fun and relaxation until the 2018 Back to School season comes around in January.  Amongst the happy youngsters will be the recipients of BIC®’s Buy a Pen, Donate a Pen programme, which adequately equips millions of young children with the relevant Stationery tools to fulfil their basic educational needs. 

It is a reality for many parents that Back to School is a difficult time as they struggle to afford Stationery.  BIC® has heeded the call and, since 2011, has supplied 7.3 million South African underprivileged children with the relevant Stationery thereby #Powering their Potential and taking the anxiety away from parents and allowing kids to focus on their education and the year ahead.

BIC® has announced that the campaign will be back during the 2018 Back to School period. BIC® Marketing Manager (Stationery) - South East and Central Africa (SECA), Ronette Kishun says the campaign will be a primary focus in 2018, in line with their commitment to advocate for education opportunities and allowing children to apply their energy to their dreams for the future.

“Education should be the number one priority for those who want to help build a better South Africa, and our Buy a Pen, Donate a Pen programme will inspire kids who would otherwise have started their 2018 school year without Stationery,” she says. “BIC® will allow them to #Power their Potential by giving them the right tools to be able to achieve their dreams.”

Kishun explained that by buying any one of the twenty specially marked BIC® packs carrying the Buy a Pen, Donate a Pen sticker, South Africans will be giving underprivileged children the tools needed for learning.

The pens are distributed to disadvantaged schools across the country through the READ Foundation every year, and Lizelle Langford, PR and Fundraising Manager at the READ Foundation, says the project has made a difference in the lives of many primary and high school learners.

“A pen or pencil is something a lot of people don’t even have to think about,” said Langford.  “But for some youngster’s Stationery is an obstacle to their education because they simply can’t afford it. Putting the right instruments in a child’s hand can make a significant difference to their future.”

Langford explains: “Through this initiative children no longer have to share a pencil stub or pens, which is time consuming for teachers who have to wait for each child to get a turn with the pen or pencil.  We are extremely grateful to BIC® for this opportunity.”

Each year over 500 schools in the townships and rural areas are provided with BIC® pens with the majority going to primary schools.

Kishun urges South Africans to join BIC®’s Buy a Pen, Donate a Pen programme and create magic for children by choosing to change a child’s future over the upcoming Back to School year.  Specially marked packs are available at all major retailers nationally.