Johannesburg, South Africa, January 29, 2024: FedEx Express, a subsidiary of FedEx Corp. (NYSE: FDX) and one of the world’s largest express transportation companies will be contributing to rural African education with a container classroom donation to The Wana Johnson Development Project. This classroom will serve as a Montessori for children in a Taweni village in Eastern Cape, South Africa.
FedEx through this collaboration aims to address the critical issue of illiteracy in the Sub-Saharan Africa region, where the ‘Progress in International Reading Literacy Study’ in 2021 reported that eight out of 10 South African school children struggle to read by the age of ten.[i]
Natasha Parmanand, Managing Director Operations, Sub-Saharan Africa, FedEx Express MEISA said, “We believe that education is the key to unlocking opportunities for our children. Through our collaboration with The Wana Johnson Development Project, we are not just bridging educational gaps; we are helping create a brighter future for both the children and the entire community.”
Agnes Khaya Mposula, Chairperson and Family Representative, The Wana Johnson Development Project says “Early childhood development is critical to children, providing a critical foundation for their later school and professional careers. The new FedEx classroom will help us formalize our education program and laying a foundation for breaking the cycle of poverty and illiteracy in our community. We are extremely grateful for the donation.”
Currently, the district of Taweni village is home to three primary schools, two high schools, and four Early Childhood Development (ECD) Centers, all grappling with the challenges of overcrowded classrooms accommodating between 80 to 100 learners; a situation significantly impacting the overall educational quality. A container classroom presents a convenient solution to conventional school structures. Its cost-effectiveness and mobility provide an efficient solution, especially in remote areas, where establishing a traditional educational infrastructure can be challenging.
About FedEx Express
FedEx Express is one of the world’s largest express transportation companies, supplying fast and reliable delivery to more than 220 countries and territories. FedEx Express uses a global air-and-ground network to speed the delivery of time-sensitive shipments by a definite time and date.
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The Wana Johnson Development Project
The Wana Johnson Development project is a community project that uses climate change awareness to empower women. Named after late community leader Wana Johnson, the Project primarily focuses on agriculture, sustainable food gardens and tourism as means to improve the lives of local women in the rural Taweni area, which, is amongst the most impoverished in South Africa.