Following a year-long collection drive PANNAR and the University of the Free State (UFS) donated bags to Khulekani Primary School Grade 1s on 22 January.

On his visit to PANNAR's field trials in 2007, Prof. Sakkie Pretorius (Professor and Chairperson: Department of Plant Sciences University of the Free State Bloemfontein) noticed children walking along the roadside carrying their school books in plastic bags. This observation sparked a creative bag collection initiative.

Prof. Pretorius approached Dr Rikus Kloppers for assistance in collecting the conference bags that PANNAR and UFS researchers receive at conferences and meetings across the globe.

By the start of the 2009 school year they had collected enough bags to donate one to each Grade 1 learner at Khulekani Primary School, which neighbours PANNAR's Redgates Research Farm.

Dr Kloppers, Antony Jarvie, Patrick Maluwa and Ash Babooram from Greytown Research paid the school a surprise visit on 22 January to present the class with the donation. The school Principal Mrs Nene afforded PANNAR the opportunity to talk to the class about the agricultural research that is being conducted on the neighbouring farm and about the importance of such research for food security in South Africa. "We also encouraged them to attend school every day and study hard so that in 12 years' time they may also attend a great academic institution like the University of the Free State," says Dr Kloppers.

Both PANNAR and the UFS believe that education is the responsibility of the entire community (including corporate citizens) and hope that these donations will enhance the learners' learning experiences and subsequent learning outcomes.

CONTACT:

Christin English, Media Officer

Phone: (033) 413 9561 or (072) 1789 593

E-mail: christin.english@pannar.co.za