B’not Mitzvah give lasting gift to 100 children

For most girls, a Batmitzvah ends when the party is over. For 30 Johannesburg girls, it marked the beginning of a year-long mission that has left a legacy for 100 children in an under-resourced community. 

Instead of focusing only on celebrations, the girls spent a year raising enough money to provide 100 MiDesks to children in Zenzele township in Randfontein, west of Johannesburg. The portable desk and chair units include solar-powered lights, giving children a dedicated place to study even when there is no electricity. 

The initiative formed part of The Nourish Project, a non-profit organisation founded by Amanda Shapiro to address food insecurity and skills development. The girls’ fundraising campaign became a dedicated branch of the project, called My Chesed. Chesed means loving kindness, while tzedakah refers to righteous giving, a core Jewish value. 

Shapiro said she got the idea when she met Dr Farana Boodhram of MiDesk Global about 18 months before the handover. She learned that an estimated 2.4 million to three million children in South Africa don’t have access to a desk, and that MiDesk was helping by providing portable workstations. 

“I knew straight away that this was something I wanted to bring to the Batmitzvah girls,” Shapiro said. “It offered them a meaningful way to channel this important milestone into something with lasting impact.” 

About 30 girls participated in the 2025 programme. Together, they committed to funding 100 desks for children who often complete schoolwork sitting on the floor or using any available surface at home. 

Over the course of a year, the girls produced a fundraising video and shared it with relatives, friends, and members of the community. They appealed for donations and explained how a simple desk could transform a child’s ability to learn. 

Their efforts succeeded. Every rand needed to purchase the 100 desks was raised through their own fundraising campaign. The project culminated in a handover ceremony in Zenzele last month, where the girls met many of the children who would receive the desks. 

For 13-year-old Eva Abramson, the visit challenged many of her assumptions. “I didn’t really know what to expect before we went to Zenzele. I had never been to a place like that.” 

She said visiting one woman’s home left a lasting impression. “The people there are very poor. When I went into one of the lady’s houses, I couldn’t believe how small it was. I felt very sad for her. But she was proud to show us her home.” 

Abramson said the experience made her appreciate her own circumstances. “I had such a fun party for my Batmitzvah,” she said. “I felt very lucky when I saw girls at Zenzele who are my age. They have probably never had a party.” 

Knowing the desks would help children her own age made the project especially meaningful. “I was happy that the desks could help those girls because I have a desk at school and at home.” 

She encourages other Batmitzvah girls to consider similar projects. “I would say she must definitely get involved because even though it takes a long time, it feels so good at the end when you can give something to someone that they really need.” 

Gia Arenson, also 13, said she was struck by the excitement of the children waiting to receive their desks. “I expected a simple handover and imagined it would be a quick thing, but I was surprised and it made me so happy to see how happy and grateful the children were. 

“Watching them wait and walk up to receive their desk and seeing the smiles on their faces is something I’ll never forget.” 

Arenson said the experience changed the way she thinks about helping others. “I learned that kindness can change everything. Something so small from us is something so big for them.” 

Twelve-year-old Ariella Shapiro said, “What surprised me was how warmly I was greeted and how welcoming everyone was. I felt so grateful I had the opportunity to do it and for the family, who was very invested.” The image that has stayed with her is the reaction of one young recipient. “I will always remember the look on the little girl’s face after handing over the desk.” 

Asked what she had learned during the year, she gave a simple answer. “How good you feel after doing it.” 

The MiDesk is designed to address several barriers to education. Each unit unfolds into a desk and chair, creating a stable workspace for children who may not have furniture at home. The integrated solar light allows them to continue reading and completing homework after sunset, during power cuts, or where there is no access to electricity. 

Each desk is expected to last about 12 years, supporting a child throughout most of their school life. For Shapiro, that longevity reflects the purpose of the project. Rather than creating a once-off charitable donation, the girls have given children tools they can use every day for years to come. 

In doing so, they have transformed one of Judaism’s most important coming-of-age milestones into a practical expression of responsibility, generosity, and community that will continue long after the celebrations have ended.