MiDesk Global
What does your company do?
MiDesk Global is an award-winning social enterprise committed to transforming education access for learners in under-resourced communities. Our flagship innovation - the MiDesk - is a revolutionary, patented wheelie schoolbag that converts into a desk and chair, complete with a solar-powered light and USB charging portal. It empowers students to study anytime, anywhere, whether at school or at home.
I first conceptualised the MiDesk at age 16 as a high school science project, in response to a global educational crisis: over 400 million children worldwide - including 3 million in South Africa - lack a basic school desk (UNESCO). This absence impacts handwriting, focus, homework delivery, and long-term academic success.
To date, over 5,200 MiDesks have been deployed across 62 schools in South Africa and Namibia, thanks to partnerships with corporates, NGOs, and individual sponsors.
Rooted in collaboration and sustainability, MiDesk Global addresses six UN Sustainable Development Goals and remains driven by a single vision: to restore dignity, mobility, and opportunity through education - one desk at a time.
What is your biggest success?
My greatest success has been leading the growth and impact of MiDesk Global, a social innovation I first conceptualised at age 15 to address the global crisis of children learning without desks. What began as a school science project is now a patented, award-winning product used by over 5,200 learners across 62 schools in South Africa and Namibia. While completing my BCom and Postgrad in Entrepreneurship at the University of Cape Town, I interned at MiDesk, managing marketing and social media. In 2023, I stepped into the role of Chief Impact Officer, where I now lead our global partnerships, brand strategy, and impact reporting. My initiatives have directly attracted major sponsors and expanded our international footprint. Witnessing a child thrive using something I once sketched as a teen is the most rewarding part of this journey. I remain committed to driving educational equity - one MiDesk at a time.
What has been your biggest hurdle?
My biggest hurdle has been navigating the challenges of scaling a social enterprise in under-resourced communities while maintaining affordability, quality, and impact. Many of the schools and learners who need the MiDesk most are in rural areas with limited infrastructure and no budgets for innovation. Convincing stakeholders to invest in a solution for communities they may never see firsthand has required persistent advocacy, strategic storytelling, and building trust through measurable impact. As a young woman leading in this space, I’ve also had to overcome perceptions about age and credibility - especially in boardrooms and funding negotiations. These experiences have strengthened my resilience and refined my leadership approach. Every barrier has deepened my commitment to ensuring that no child is left without the dignity of a desk. Turning challenges into opportunities has been central to my journey as Chief Impact Officer, and continues to fuel our mission to transform education access.
