Durst signs on as the first FESPA Foundation Partner

The FESPA Foundation has announced Durst Group as its first official partner since launching at the FESPA Global Print Expo 2025. The company will support the FESPA Foundation and sponsor Malekapane Primary School.

The Foundation says the partnership is a significant step forward in its mission to leverage the power of print to facilitate education and improve the lives of children in underserved communities.
Commenting on Durst’s partnership with the FESPA Foundation and its commitment to sponsoring schools, Neil Felton, CEO of FESPA, says, “We are delighted to announce that Durst is the first organisation in our community to join our ‘Adopt a School’ initiative by partnering with Malekapane Primary School. We look forward to sharing the inspiring journey ahead as both Durst and the school embark on this meaningful collaboration.”

The ‘Adopt a School’ initiative, created by Felton and overseen by Steve Thobela, Managing Director, Print, Packaging and Signage Solutions and FESPA Foundation’s Africa Coordinator, connects printing businesses with schools in dire need of resources, primarily in South Africa. The FESPA Foundation plans to expand to Malawi, Kenya and Tanzania.
Thobela adds, “We are incredibly excited to welcome Durst as our first official ‘Adopt a School’ partner. Durst’s support, specifically targeted to Malekapane Primary School, will allow us to create an environment where print can truly make a difference in inspiring and educating young minds. Ultimately, its commitment will directly impact the lives of the many children who attend Malekapane Primary School, helping to positively shape their lives in the future.”

The programme goes beyond the FESPA Foundation supplying printed educational materials; it also addresses critical needs, such as safe infrastructure, food security and basic facilities, such as clean and functional toilets. The Foundation recognises that the impact of print is only maximised when the schools’ fundamental necessities are met.
“We are truly honoured to be the first partner to step forward and also to take up the FESPA Foundation’s ‘Adopt a School’ initiative by sponsoring Malekapane Primary School. Supporting this project marks more than just a contribution to education — it symbolises the values that have shaped Durst over the past nine decades: innovation, responsibility and long-term impact. As we approach our 90th anniversary in 2026, we see this partnership as a meaningful way to give back and set the tone for the next chapter of Durst — one that continues to combine cutting-edge technology with real-world purpose,” says Christoph Gamper, CEO & Co-Owner of Durst Group.

The FESPA Foundation says there are three other schools in the Limpopo province – Batau Primary School, Pitseng ya Thuto Primary School and Madisei Primary School – prospective beneficiaries of the ‘Adopt a School’ initiative. These schools grapple with issues ranging from dilapidated buildings and overcrowded classrooms to a lack of fencing, unsafe sanitation and inadequate kitchen facilities.
Durst’s involvement as the first official partner of the FESPA Foundation and its commitment to sponsoring Malekapane Primary School set a powerful precedent for other industry leaders to join the FESPA Foundation’s vital cause.

The partnership with Durst also helps FESPA Foundation to secure long-term sustainability for its projects, expand its global reach, and strengthen partnerships that go beyond one-off support.
Companies interested in supporting this initiative can find more information at www.fespafoundation.com.