- Havanna van der Watt initiated the Pencils of Promise drive to provide stationery packs to 150 learners at Mitchells Plain Primary School.
- Van der Watt, a top-six finalist in the Kay Mayson Foundation’s ethical leadership project, garnered support from numerous organisations.
- Her project not only supplied necessary tools but also inspired the young students.
A pencil holds so much value for a primary school learner.
It is a tool used to create, shape and mold the minds of future leaders, but unfortunately, it is a resource not all learners have access to.
Seeing this first hand while at primary school, Havanna van der Watt set out to make a lasting impact on children from Mitchells Plain Primary school, through her Pencils of Promise drive which sought to provide stationery packs to 150 learners in the area.
Having finished primary school here, the Kay Mayson scholar was encouraged to spring into action through her nomination as part of the top six in the ethical leadership project of the foundation.
Havanna’s project saw locals drop off donations of stationery with partners Van Schaik Bookstores.
Reaching local learners
On Wednesday 19 June, a group of 50 learners received their packs at the Mitchells Plain Primary school. The event also saw the group interact with activities around leadership through games and fun.
Parkhurst Primary School will also be a beneficiary of the project.
“This project was initially started last year when the ethical leadership competition was in place with Kay Mayson.
“I was fortunate enough to first come into the top six with my idea. Once I pitched my idea, I was able to win the competition,” says Havanah.
“My idea is basically to give stationery to those who may not have it.”
Ethical leadership is a core value for Havanna.
She believes in demonstrating through action how impactful giving back can be.
“By doing so, you can inspire others,” she says. This belief motivated her to start the Pencils of Promise project, recognising a significant need within the community.
Proud moments
Her mother, Nicola Steyn says she always recognised Havanah’s exceptional academic strength and applied for several scholarships, with her being successful with the Kay Mayson foundation for high school. “We are exceptionally proud of her. She is a shy child, but now she can get up and talk infront of many people. We are very excited for the what the future holds,” she says. “She wants to make a difference, and she has already identified another project she wants to tackle, with homelessness.”
Now residing in Kraaifontein, Havanna did not want to forget where she came from and the school that laid the foundation for her academic success.
“I thought about this project because I observed that many students in the school don’t have what they need during lessons. I wanted to reach out and give stationery packs to those who might not have them,” Havanna explains.
“I wanted to make a difference at this school because I know that there is way more potential. The educators in the school and all the students have so much potential. I think that they deserve more than what they have and I always come back to where I started,” she continues.
Young leaders
The Kay Mason Foundation’s CEO, Lauren Bright says Havanah is a shining light.
“We have included ethical leadership as part of our curriculum, because we believe it’s pivotal to teach scholars at a young age about ethics and integrity and how to support the community that they are in. So Pencils of Promise has been an outreach that Havana won. She won the Ethical Leadership Award, but the Pencils of Promise that she developed was based on the community needs that she recognised,” she says. “With Van Schaik on board, it has now become this massive community outreach that has taken on a life form of its own. And I think for Havana, it’s given her exceptional confidence in her ability to impact the community.”
Margaret Vyver head of marketing at Van Schaik says: “We believe in giving where there’s a need, but it’s also important to partner with those we care about. The Kay Mason Foundation is one of those organisations we can truly partner with. We could immediately see the potential for partnership due to her passion and dedication to helping the community. During her pitch, Havanna spoke from the heart about her desire to help other children in need, which resonated deeply with us.”
Alan Frenchman, principal of Mitchells Plain Primary School, also expressed his pride in Havanna.
“Havanna, you have reminded us that your journey at the school does not end when you leave here. It is special to witness how much you have grown and what you have achieved. Continue with the good work,” he said. “To the Kay Mason Foundation and Van Schaik, thank you for making this possible.”
