A $0.20 cardboard desk for a rural school in India

Many of the things and blessings of civilization are so accessible and familiar that we do not even notice them in everyday life, because it seems that they have always been there and always will be. But in many schools in the developing world, even basic things like a pencil, a briefcase, a desk, and a chair are not luxuries. And rural schools in India cannot afford such simple and necessary things.

Children in rural schools often sit right on the floor, holding notebooks on their laps, and carry textbooks in rag bags or hauled plastic bags.

One Indian non-profit organization, Aarambh, has taken a very visible and effective step towards improving the quality of life and learning for India’s poorest children by creating a handheld, multifunctional Help Desk desk made of packaging cardboard. The cardboard desk is easily transformed into a lightweight and convenient portfolio where you can safely place textbooks, notebooks and other educational materials to carry them home and back. It is interesting how resistant this material is to moisture, as India is not the driest region in the world.





A school transformer made of recycled cardboard, which Aarambh receives from local cardboard and paper processing centers. The blanks of the future wearable desk are cut with a laser from sheets of cardboard, folded and glued together.



Such a folding desk portfolio of cardboard is very affordable and compact. Remember on FacePla.net we talked about a $9 cardboard bike? The cost of one cardboard desk $0.20 is the price of correct posture and preserved vision. Students may feel more comfortable, which means spending more time in class.





In terms of environmental friendliness, a worn-out briefcase can be recycled an infinite number of times at the same local cardboard processing centers.





Source: facepla.net