A recent partnership between MiDesk Global and ADS Insight will deliver 110 portable study desks to paediatric units in Gauteng and North West, helping hospitalised children continue schoolwork during ongoing treatment.
It all began when Professor Jeané Cloete, head of the paediatric and child health clinical unit at Steve Biko Academic Hospital, witnessed a young girl sitting quietly using a portable MiDesk to complete homework while waiting for treatment. This moment stayed with Professor Cloete.
After reaching out to MiDesk Global, an assessment of the paediatric wards at Steve Biko Academic Hospital revealed that children often rely on makeshift surfaces for writing, reading, and completing assignments between treatments and ward rounds.
“What we found highlighted a major gap,” said Talita Boodhram, chief impact officer at MiDesk Global.
“While hospitals are designed for medical care, they are often not equipped to support children academically during extended stays. In many wards, there is very little dedicated space for learning. Teaching often happens on bedside tables, beds, or small makeshift surfaces,” Boodhram explained.
“MiDesks create a proper workspace where children can sit comfortably and focus on their schoolwork while they recover,” Cloete said.
The desks are lightweight, foldable, and fitted with wheels, allowing them to be moved directly to bedside tables and stored away when medical staff need additional space during treatment or emergencies.
Speaking during the official handover event at Steve Biko Academic Hospital, Boodhram highlighted the realities faced by children trying to keep up with schoolwork during prolonged hospital stays.
“When children are hospitalised for extended periods, they are not only fighting illness but also fighting falling behind in their education,” she said.
“Children should be able to read, write, and study with comfort and dignity, whether they are at school, at home, in a clinic, or in a hospital ward,” Boodhram emphasised.
Aida Bakri, founder of ADS Insight, expressed hope that the desks would provide children with more than just a place to work.
“We believe every child deserves the opportunity to learn, regardless of their circumstances,” she said, having a proper workspace can restore a sense of routine, comfort, and hope for a child during a difficult time.”
For children spending long periods in hospital, maintaining some connection to school and routine becomes an important part of emotional stability during treatment. The introduction of tools like portable desks highlights not just a practical intervention, but a broader gap between healthcare systems and the educational needs of children in prolonged care.
The desks will be distributed to paediatric wards across Gauteng and North West, where hospital staff believe they will help children continue lessons during extended periods of treatment.
IOL
Yaeesh Collins
iol.co.za
