Post: Keeping The SIFSA Paper Drive Moving: Thank You NCT Forestry

May 7, 2026

Keeping The SIFSA Paper Drive Moving: Thank You NCT Forestry

In the Forestry Sector, we often speak about the “long game” – the patience required to nurture a seedling for years before it reaches its full potential. At She Is Forestry South Africa (SIFSA), we apply that same philosophy to our social impact. Our mission is to cultivate an environment where dignity is a given and career paths in forestry are visible and inspirational to even young girls, long before they enter the job market. This vision is carried out through a multi faceted approach, ranging from inspirational role model videos to assisting where possible with basic and educational support for five selected high schools across South Africa.

During our 2025 SIFSA Webinar, this commitment was further strengthened by our annual ‘Paper Drive’. While the national Back-a Buddy campaign was designed to raise funds for our five core high schools, a spontaneous and heart warming development occurred at a local level. The NCT Forestry Agricultural Co-operative Head Office in Pietermaritzburg decided to go above and beyond the digital campaign. In addition to donating funds, the staff felt moved to organise an immediate physical collection of goods.

Recognising the value of these tangible donations, it was agreed that these items should be directed to a school within NCT’s immediate reach, and of a smaller size that the donations would make a significant and longer lasting impact. Lions River Primary School was chosen as the perfect recipient. Located in a small, quiet hamlet in the KwaZulu-Natal Midlands, the school is surrounded by the rolling hills of plantations as well as crops and mixed agriculture that characterise the region. One of NCT’s large, prominent farms is situated just a short distance away.

While Lions River Primary is not a ‘farm school’ in the traditional sense, its identity is inextricably linked to agriculture. For the children here, forestry isn’t a distant corporate concept; it is the backdrop of their daily lives. While we may not know every parent’s occupation, the prevalence of forestry in the surrounding landscape means these children grow up with the industry in their peripheral vision. This organic connection made the school a natural choice for a drive centred on community and local support.

Reflecting on the arrival of the donations, Ms. Slondile Mhlongo, the headmistress of Lions River Primary, shared a sincere word of thanks: “In a small school like ours, these supplies are more than just paper; they are a message to our children that they haven’t been forgotten. Seeing our learners’ faces light up reminds me that when we provide for their basic dignity, we give them the freedom to simply focus on being students and dreaming of what they can become.”

The success of this local outreach was fuelled by the hands-on generosity of the NCT staff, who personally funded and collected reams of printing paper and rolls of toilet paper. This collection ensured that the school received a significant boost to its resources, addressing two pillars that SIFSA holds dear: education and hygiene.

In a primary school setting, printing paper is the vehicle for education, the worksheets and tests that facilitate learning, while toilet paper represents the fundamental right to hygiene and dignity.

Beyond immediate relief, initiatives like the Paper Drive and our ‘Mentor Me’ programme serve as platforms to “plant the seed” of forestry as a future career.

By engaging with a school in a forestry-prevalent area, we are speaking to children who already know the sight and smell of the plantations. Our goal is to shift their perspective, from seeing the trees as just part of the scenery to seeing them as a source of professional opportunity. We want these girls to grow up knowing that the industry surrounding their hamlet has space for them to become scientists, managers, and leaders, and is not just a career for boys.

The 2025 Paper Drive illustrates one part of the broader SIFSA mission: combining national fundraising and mentorship with targeted local interventions. We owe a debt of gratitude to the NCT staff and every individual who contributed to the Back-a Buddy campaign. Your support has ensured that this year, the children of Lions River Primary can focus on their studies with the dignity they deserve. At She Is Forestry SA, we believe that when you give a girl the tools to succeed and the dignity to stay in school, you aren’t just helping an individual; you are growing the future of an entire industry.

Written By: Julia Rees, Owner Of Dargle Poles And NCT Director

Source: Page 30 of Forestry in Focus