Thousands wait for transplants in South Africa. The Orgamites teach children why organ health and talking about donation can save lives.
Gauteng, South Africa (12 August 2025) – August might be known as Women’s Month in SA, but it’s also ‘Orgust’, a month dedicated to talking about the life-saving gift of organ and tissue donation.
This year, TELL (Transplant Education for Living Legacies) is marking it with something bright, friendly and genuinely useful for families and schools: the Gauteng launch of the Orgamites Mighty Education Programme.
Think of the Orgamites as a kid-friendly doorway into big conversations. Aimed at ages 5–11, the free programme uses playful organ characters and easy activities to help children learn how bodies work, why healthy habits matter, and how one ‘yes’ can give others a second chance at life.
It’s simple, age-appropriate learning that naturally spills over into kitchen-table chats with parents and caregivers. Right where decisions are made.
The need is real. More than 8,000 South Africans, including at least 40 children, are waiting for life-saving transplants.
Children often wait up to 2.5 times longer than adults, and one of the biggest barriers is that many families haven’t spoken about donation yet.
What’s inside the programme toolkit? Three bite-size ‘Mighty’ modules:
- Mighty Me (meet your organs and what they do)
- Mighty Habits (everyday choices for a healthy body)
- Mighty Kind (kindness, helping others, and the gift of life)
It’s not just for classrooms. Families can stream short videos, print colouring pages and try simple activities at home, no medical or teaching degree required.
Since launching in Canada in 2021, the Orgamites have reached 3,200+ schools in eight countries, and South Africa is now proudly rolling it out with support from Canadian Blood Services, the Southern African Transplant Society (SATS) and TELL.
To help teachers and health workers get started, TELL is hosting a free online webinar on Tuesday, 12 August 2025, 19:00–19:45 for foundation/intermediate phase educators, life skills/LO coordinators and healthcare professionals.
Watch on 12 August 2025 at 19:00 to 19:45 on LinkedIn, YouTube, or Facebook.
Sources: Supplied
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