Small Steps, Big Impact: Kids receive much needed school shoes

For immediate release
18 April 2023

On Wednesday, 11 April 2023, stakeholders of the Walk-a-Child-to-School campaign, school principals and learners gathered at the Conville Civic Hall in George to launch this year’s annual event.  The campaign has been in existence for three years. Last year, 14 schools benefited from the campaign. This year, more than 20 schools received 40 pairs of shoes each.  These figures indicate the substantial growth of the campaign since its inception.

During the event, the Executive Mayor of Garden Route District Municipality (GRDM), Alderman Memory Booysen, handed over school shoes to more than 20 schools in the Garden Route district. The collaborative initiative is annually rolled out by GRDM, Eden FM, Vodacom, the George Museum, the Road Accident Fund (RAF), as well as the Garden Route Mall, again. This group of stakeholders work towards a corporate social responsibility vision aimed at changing the lives of the most vulnerable school-goers. Also, the project aims to restore the dignity of human beings.

Nomonde Makhubalo, Marketing Manager of Eden FM, gave an overview of the project at the event and said that this project is growing fast as the campaign is donating shoes to 21 schools this year”. Adding to this she said: “Last year we had a target of 10 school, but we donated shoes to 14 schools instead – this campaign is all about “Umntu ngumntu ngabantu,”’ she said. In addition, the Programme Director of the event, and Station Manager of Eden FM, Morne Pietersen, extended a word of gratitude to all partners who put their hands in their pockets,” to make another success of the campaign this year.  Queeny Diko, Cluster Specialist for Eden Country at Vodacom and Ntombi Kulati, Marketing and Communications Manager at the Road Accident Fund also shared messages of their continued support at the event.

Teachers and learners receive the shoes on behalf of their schools during the event.

When finally handing over the donations to the principals of the schools, Executive Mayor of GRDM, Alderman Memory Booysen, stressed that “children really need these shoes”. Mayor Booysen also explained why the items are distributed from February to April every year and said: “If we were to hand over the shoes in December, everybody will raise their hands, as well as those parents who are able to afford shoes for their kids – only later, in the beginning of the following year, we are able to see what children are truly in need – by that time, they would still not own a pair for themselves,” he added. Apart from the shoe initiative, he said that girls also are faces with other challenges. “The GRDM is already in discussions with other potential stakeholders regarding this possible new addition to the campaign. We are hopeful that next year this time, this addition will furthermore address those challenges that girls struggle with,” Mayor Booysen said.

To the men present he said: “Gone are the days that women must fight their battles alone. We as men must be part of the battles that our sisters and mothers are facing” To the men he said: “Gone are the days that we must struggle with our own issues”. As Makhubalo, Mayor Booysen also echoed the words of the lyrics sang by the late musician Brenda Fassie: “Umntu ngumntu ngabantu – Ons is wie ons is deur ander mense”.

In closing Mayor Booysen said: “We are going to walk the walk with you; we are going to put rubber on gravel with you”.

ENDS