Every year, scores of learners in Alexandra walk to school in worn-out shoes, but this year, Lions International sought to change that reality by donating 150 pairs of school shoes to learners at Zenzeleni Primary School on February 20.

But that was not all, at least according to the Lions’ Mark van Heerden, who noted that they would bring more donations the following week, bringing relief to learners who live under tough economic conditions.

Read more: Lions donate hundreds of school shoes to Zenzeleni Primary learners

The donation, according to ActionSA councillor Ramatamo Sehoai, comes at a time when it is needed, and to people who need it the most. “We really appreciate and hope that this initiative can spread to other schools, because, as you know, in Alexandra, there is a high unemployment rate. We come from poor backgrounds, and such initiatives are always welcomed,” he shared.

He emphasised that the donation would ensure that learners could finally learn in class without any distractions because of their socioeconomic circumstances. “We know that when children are poor and not supported with what they need, they really cannot concentrate, they cannot learn. A healthy learning environment is what we are advocating for.”

Reflecting on the donation, Van Heerden said all the clubs within their district looked after different service pillars, but each club decided how best to serve its community, and the donation drive was one of the ways.

He added that the organisation had access to shoes at affordable rates, and this enabled them to arrange programmes around this need. “It is so rewarding to be able to give without expectations. The look on the children’s faces, and the elderly faces when we do projects like this, is so rewarding.”

Also read: One million books, countless dreams: Help Gauteng learners read

While individual Lions clubs can select their own community projects, the organisation centres its global efforts on five key global causes. These include addressing various aspects of vision impairment, promoting early detection and support for people affected by diabetes, combating hunger and malnutrition, advancing environmental protection and sustainability, and providing aid to children and families impacted by cancer.

For more than a century, Lions have been attending to humanitarian needs, fostering peace, and promoting international understanding through service initiatives in their clubs, while their South African arm has been serving the community for close to 70 years.

Zenzeleni educators welcomed the donation, noting that it will not only ease the burden on families but also help learners walk to school with pride and confidence.

Sehoai said he hoped these kinds of initiatives spread to more schools whose learners were in need. “We want to appeal to business people out there, to join hands to make sure that they come to help other schools as well.”

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