FESPA Berlin exhibition donations enrich student lives in South Africa

In autumn 2025, FESPA Foundation’s Africa Coordinator, Steve Thobela ka Mdlalose, distributed donated items to four schools in Limpopo and one in KwaZulu-Natal. These included posters, pens, T-shirts, puzzles, paper and more, all generously provided by visitors and exhibitors during FESPA Global Print Expo 2025.

Making an impact

The delivery of these essential educational resources to Batau Primary, Pitseng ya Thuto, Evane Intermediate, Malekapane Primary and Madisei Primary reflects FESPA Foundation’s mission to harness the creativity and power of print to create a positive impact where it is needed most.

Thobela explains: “Taking something as simple as a pen or a poster and watching it light up a child’s face is truly remarkable. To these children, this is more than just a poster or a pen, it is hope, and we cannot stop here.”

The support of the FESPA community

With donations from the FESPA community throughout the 2025 Berlin show, the Foundation has been able to provide vital teaching resources and improve school facilities, making a tangible difference to children, teachers and wider communities.

• Practical Publishing, based in Johannesburg, designed subject specific posters for science and mathematics, which were printed, shipped and distributed to partner schools.
• At FESPA Global Print Expo 2025, Durst produced vibrant, large format printed posters, which Thobela personally delivered.
• Brother, a leading supplier of direct to garment printers, designed sports T-shirts for the school children.
• Kornit, a global manufacturer of digital printing solutions for the textile, apparel and garment industries, donated t-shirts.

Thobela adds: “When we arrive at the schools, we’re embraced by the staff and students. We’re showered with thank you posters, drawings and pure joy. Each time we help transform a school or give a child access to equipment they’ve never had before, the impact is significant. I’m so thankful to the FESPA community for their support.”

Transforming day to day life

The Foundation also helped to install a new toilet facility at Evane intermediate school, the first school to receive its support. This improvement will make a lasting difference to students and staff. Previously, students and teachers shared the girls’ toilets, which had no doors, leaving users exposed. When the new facility was completed, the entire school gathered to celebrate with a special ceremony to express their gratitude.

What’s next?

As part of the ‘Adopt A School’ initiative:

• Durst is supporting Malekapane primary school and will visit in January 2026 to launch the partnership and begin work on classrooms and a new kitchen facility.
• In February, Messe Frankfurt will initiate its relationship with Madisei Primary.
• The Foundation also plans to identify two more schools in the Western Cape Province to benefit from this programme.

Several collaborative sessions are being organised with local and international print, packaging and signage companies, alongside beneficiary schools. These will coincide with International Print Day, Youth Day, Mandela Day, Arbor Week and Heritage Day throughout 2026.

The FESPA Foundation would like to express its gratitude to all donors and sponsors for their continued support.

To find out more about school adoption or other ways to support FESPA Foundation, visit:
https://www.fespa.com/en/about/fespa-foundation/