Tutu Desk Campaign

Archbishop Desmond Tutu championed the Tutu Desk to provide a simple writing surface for schoolchildren across Africa who have no desks. He said, “In Sub Saharan Africa alone, over 95 million children who go to school do not have a desk. Globally, the numbers are even more staggering. The Tutu Desk is a simple yet critical part of the school infrastructure which dramatically improves literacy development, access, retention, and learning outcomes wherever it is deployed.”

The Tutu Desk is issued to the learner. They write their name on the designed space; it’s their own desk to use. It weighs less than a kilogram and rests comfortable and stably on a child’s lap, providing an even, steady surface to write on whether they’re sitting on a chair or on the floor. The cutout handle makes it easy to carry home for homework and projects.

​​Tutu Desks are manufactured in South Africa from recycled high-impact polystyrene, a high-grade, child-safe proprietary polymer that won’t shatter if dropped. The material is ideal for imprinting educational and social messaging as well as corporate branding. The desks are designed to last each student a minimum of five years and can be recycled at the end of their useful lives as writing surfaces.

The Diocese is asking each congregation to raise a minimum of $100 towards the Tutu Desk Campaign. The Diocese will be able to design the desks we are sponsoring, which will include the shield of Bishop, maps, animals, multiplication tables, the alphabet, and other useful information.

Ideally, we'd like to have the desks designed and ordered by October 7th, which would be Archbishop Desmond Tutu's birthday.  In order to make this happen, the Diocese is asking all congregations to submit their funds to the diocesan office no later than August 1, 2024.

Watch the Tutu Desk Campaign video.