Anell Esterhuizen and Mariette Rossouw did a fantastic thing recently. In a big effort to help families and children who can’t afford stationery of their own, Anell and Mariette worked overtime to make numerous stationery wishes come true!
Western Cape, South Africa (23 January 2025) — Anell Edterhuien and Mariette Rossouw have made a world of difference for many people along the West Coast thanks to their Pencils for Smiles initiative. In a massive effort to make stationery wishes come true for those in need, Anell and Mariette rolled up their sleeves, united a small town with big hearts and got cracking to collect as much stationery as they could.
Focusing on the foundation phase of schooling, Anell and Mariette sat down with a teacher to figure out what young learners (Grade R, 1, 2 and 3) need to start the year.
Once the duo had their wish list, they got to work rallying the community of Velddrif to donate stationery (preloved or new), which would then head off to schools, foundations and churches after being packed into pencil cases and stationery-filled bags.
The impact Pencils for Smiles Made:
In total, 372 pencil cases were packed! Bags of stationery were handed out to the Back to School Church at Noordhoek Civic, Noordhoek School, Laaiplek School, and the Matthew Fergus Dreyden Foundation, amongst others.
Twenty boxes filled with an assortment of stationery wishes were also handed out to the local soup kitchen that feeds 100 children per day. They received stationery, paint, puzzles, colouring books and educational activities that’ll now give the children something to enjoy while they wait for their food. The NG Church Velddrif and VGK Church, which host reading and colouring in classes weekly, also received stationery boxes!
Leftover stationery goodies are penciled in and will be handed out next semester.
As much as this initiative is a testament to the determination of two everyday heroes, it also speaks to the collective kindness of all those who made donations possible.
Stationery donations that continue to roll in will support those in need throughout the year where possible, while November will see Pencils for Smiles ramp up once again to kickstart 2026 with all the essentials.