MiDesk controversy: ‘All I care about is children getting the desks’ – MiDesk creator
The Minister of Basic Education’s endorsement of foldable desks donated by McDonald’s has been widely criticised.
Basic Education Minister Siviwe Gwarube (left) is seated in one fo the MiDesks during a handover ceremony at St Paul's Primary School in Bo-Kaap, Cape Town on 24 February 2025. Picture: @Siviwe_G/X
CapeTalk’s John Maytham speaks with Talita Boodhram, Chief Sales and Marketing Officer at MiDesk Global and Creator of The MiDesk.
Listen below:
MiDesk has created a wheelie schoolbag that converts into a desk and chair with a solar light.
McDonald's has recently sponsored a donation of these desks to children in the Bo Kaap.
The Minister of Basic Education, Siviwe Gwarube has endorsed this donation, but the move has been widely criticised.
Firstly, because some feel the desk looks too heavy for a 6-year-old or 8-year-old to carry... and secondly because of the McDonald's branding on the desks.
Boodhram says she was shocked by this negative reaction.
“We have been in the market for three years and we have never had reviews like this before.”
- Talita Boodhram, Chief Sales and Marketing Officer at MiDesk Global and Creator of The MiDesk
With regards to the weight of the MiDesk, she says some of the children took some time to get used to how it moves.
She says the entire unit weighs 6.4kg unpacked, but claims the pulling force makes it much lighter.
She adds that the wheels are designed for the bag to be pulled on all terrains.
As for the branding, she says MiDesk approaches the sponsors and offers the branding so it can be a transparent project, and to show they recognise the brand's contribution.
“They can directly see that their funds are being invested in a certain number of MiDesks, and those are going towards impacting a certain number of children.”
- Talita Boodhram, Chief Sales and Marketing Officer at MiDesk Global and Creator of The MiDesk
Today, I handed over Mi Desks to Grade 1 learners at St Paul’s Primary school in Bo Kaap, thanks to a generous donation from @McDonalds. @MiDeskGlobal manufactures wheelie school bags that transform into a fully functional desk and chair, easy for learners to use both at home… pic.twitter.com/ch4cv488QE
— Siviwe Gwarube (@Siviwe_G) February 24, 2025
“All that matters on my end is getting the MiDesks to the children in need.”
- Talita Boodhram, Chief Sales and Marketing Officer at MiDesk Global and Creator of The MiDesk
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