In a community where households face deep socio-economic challenges, children’s most fundamental rights, particularly their right to dignity and education, can feel out of reach and, at times, denied.

These rights are not directly denied by individuals, but eroded by harsh living conditions such as being forced to go to school in shoes worn thin by time and hardship, or in a single pair of trousers so torn they become a source of shame.

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These small yet harmful everyday indignities chip away at a young person’s spirit, making the daily trip to school and attending classes dreadful activities.

According to Chris Ndlovu, programmes manager at Thusong Youth Centre, such conditions directly threaten learners’ sense of dignity and their ability to access education. It was precisely to safeguard these rights that Thusong Youth Centre organised a donation drive at Minerva Secondary School on January 26.

Mamangwa Mtshweni, a life orientation teacher at the school, confirmed the harsh realities many learners face. She said some come from child-headed households or families crippled by unemployment.

“There are learners who miss school simply because of their uniform. If they have only one pair of pants and it’s dirty, they stay home, sometimes for two days,” Mtshweni explained.

She emphasised that receiving donations allows learners to attend school consistently and fully exercise their right to education.

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Ndlovu added that the donations: shoes, pants, and shirts, help restore the confidence learners need to sustain their passion for schooling, which is essential to upholding their right to education.

When the Thusong Youth Centre team arrived at Minerva, learners lined up in orderly rows, waiting eagerly to receive their new items with excitement.

@caxtonjoburgnorth Thumeka Joos, coordinator at Thusong Youth Centre, explains how their donation drive supports learners from disadvantaged homes to help them stay in school. Video: Itumeleng Maloka #caxtonlocalmedia #Localnews #News #SA #Fyp #2026 #Community #Alex #Alexnews ♬ original sound – Caxton Joburg North

Mtshweni highlighted the broader impact such donations have on children’s learning outcomes. “They become more productive in class. They engage better and spend less time worrying about problems at home. They can focus on their schoolwork.”

Ndlovu said this is exactly what they want to achieve. “This is the dignity we are restoring for these learners,” he noted, adding that such donations revive their love for school and their passion for education.

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