A new initiative is helping hospitalised children across Gauteng continue learning during treatment through the rollout of 110 portable MiDesks to public hospital paediatric wards.
The initiative, led through a partnership between MiDesk Global and Belgian supporter ADS Insight, aims to support children who often spend weeks or months in hospital struggling to keep up with schoolwork while receiving medical care.
The desks will be distributed to Steve Biko Academic Hospital, Chris Hani Baragwanath Academic Hospital, Charlotte Maxeke Hospital, Rahima Moosa Mother and Child Hospital, Nelson Mandela Children’s Hospital, Thelle Mogoerane Regional Hospital, Sebokeng Hospital and Klerksdorp Hospital.
The campaign was inspired after Steve Biko Academic Hospital’s Head of Paediatric and Child Health clinical unit, Professor Jeané Cloete, saw a child using a MiDesk while waiting for treatment at a rural clinic.
Recognising the value of providing children with proper study spaces during long hospital stays, Cloete contacted MiDesk Global to explore how the desks could assist paediatric wards.
“What we found highlighted a major gap,” said Talita Boodhram, MiDesk Global Chief Impact Officer.
“While hospitals are designed for medical care, they are often not equipped to support children academically during extended stays.”
The MiDesk functions as a portable trolley bag that transforms into a desk, chair and solar-powered study station, giving children a mobile learning space that can be moved directly to hospital bedsides.
Boodhram said the initiative addresses both educational inequality and child dignity during recovery.
“When children are hospitalised for extended periods, they are not only fighting illness but also fighting falling behind in their education,” she said.
“Education should not be limited by a child’s environment. Children should be able to read, write and study with comfort and dignity whether they are at school, at home, in a clinic or in a hospital ward.”
Professor Cloete said many hospital wards simply do not have proper educational infrastructure for children receiving long-term treatment.
“In many wards, there is very little dedicated space for learning. Teaching often happens on bedside tables, beds, or small makeshift surfaces,” she explained.
“MiDesks create a proper workspace where children can sit comfortably and focus on their schoolwork while they recover.”
The initiative also supports hospital school teachers who move between wards assisting children with educational continuity during treatment.
The desks are made from lightweight recyclable materials and align with several United Nations Sustainable Development Goals linked to education, healthcare and sustainable development.
MiDesk was first conceptualised in 2016 when Talita Boodhram, then just 16 years old, designed the first prototype as part of a Grade 10 science project. Since then, more than 5,200 children across South Africa have received MiDesks.
ADS Insight founder Aida Bakri said the initiative reflects the importance of restoring hope and routine for children facing difficult medical journeys.
“We believe every child deserves the opportunity to learn, regardless of their circumstances,” said Bakri.
“Something as simple as having a proper workspace can restore a sense of routine, comfort and hope for a child during a difficult time.”
