Grade 7 learner Madison marks a major milestone after collecting bottle tops and bread tags to fund a wheelchair for someone in need.
Johannesburg, South Africa (18 December 2025) – It all began as a simple promise in Grade R. Now it has grown into a life-changing milestone for Madison, a Chelsea Preparatory School learner whose determination has transformed lives over the past eight years.
As Madison prepares to graduate from Grade 7, she is celebrating far more than the end of her primary school journey. She has reached a goal she set as a young child, and that’s collecting enough plastic bottle tops and bread tags to fund a wheelchair for someone in need. Along the way, she gathered an extraordinary 177 kilograms of bottle tops and more than 60 kilograms of bread tags. Each piece was carefully sorted, packed and counted by her own hands.
Madison’s mission was inspired by a story she heard from QASA about a child in need of a wheelchair. With her own brother using one, the reality of mobility was deeply personal. That moment sparked a commitment. For nearly a decade, Madison collected everywhere she could. It could be at school, at home, from neighbours, friends and family.
Year after year, she showed up, quietly doing the work, even on days when progress felt slow. Those small, repeated actions have now added up to something powerful. Real people and families whose lives are easier and more independent because she chose to help.
Madison’s story also reflects a much bigger movement. Through initiatives led by The Sweethearts Foundation and the EPR Waste Association of South Africa (eWASA), schools across the country have rallied around the shared goal of turning recycling into mobility. In 2025 alone, more than 100,000 kilograms of plastic were collected, resulting in 50 life-changing wheelchairs, with learners nationwide contributing through the Sweethearts/eWASA Schools Challenge. This campaign has also recognised nine top-performing schools for their teamwork and commitment to making a difference.
Today, Madison is celebrated for reaching her goal and for the values she represents. Chelsea Preparatory School continues to encourage its community to support this meaningful initiative through The Sweethearts Foundation, reminding us that every bread tag and bottle top counts.
Sources: The Sweethearts Foundation
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