This year has been an incredible one for Pepala. Together, we collected over 60,000 educational items for our latest shipment to Malawi - giving thousands of useful resources a second life while supporting children and schools across the country.

This year’s contribution also takes Pepala to an exciting milestone: more than 120,000 items collected and donated in total, representing around 5-6 tonnes of resources saved from landfill.

From books and stationery to backpacks and learning materials, many of these items began as surplus stock, end-of-line products or school and company clear-outs. Instead of going to waste, they are now making their way into classrooms where they can have a meaningful second life.

Every donation, big or small, plays a part. Notebooks become everyday learning materials, pencils help children practise their writing, and donated drawstring bags become much-needed school bags. Thousands of books, including phonics books from primary school clear-outs, are also helping to fill classroom and library shelves.

Behind this year’s achievement is a huge collective effort. Pepala’s volunteer-led team collects, sorts and prepares the donations through our Leicester storage hub before they begin their journey to Malawi. Once they arrive, our local team helps distribute the resources to state schools in remote communities where they are needed most.

60,000+ items in a single year is something we’re incredibly proud of. It shows what can happen when schools, businesses, volunteers and communities come together — reducing unnecessary waste while creating new opportunities for children to learn.

A heartfelt thank you to all our donors, sponsors, volunteers and supporters who made this year’s shipment possible, with special thanks to our headline sponsor, Moosa-Duke Solicitors, for their support.