When Themba Bila spoke about the 100 brand-new jerseys now warming the backs of Bovet Primary School learners, his voice carried the quiet satisfaction of a promise kept.
A bright smile spread across Bila’s face as he reflected on the ripple effect of their donation to Bovet, noting that 100 children spared the bite of winter means 100 families breathing a little easier.

“One thing I know is that there are 100 homes that will be smiling today,” he said. Bila and fellow Bovet alumnus Kenny Hlaise both once walked the same school grounds, feeling the winter chill now felt by scores of learners from impoverished households. Years later, they returned not as visitors, but as changemakers.

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Bila, founder of iRunWithThemba, and Hlaise, chairperson of the Ndaa Foundation, partnered with the Moubane Legacy Foundation (MLF) and Vib Foundation for the MLF Youth Day School Winter Drive at Bovet on June 12. What began nine years ago as Hlaise’s modest donation of 20 jerseys has grown into a larger initiative, fueled by a successful gala dinner and a shared commitment to uplift the community that raised them.

“I was once among those who did not have jerseys and shoes,” Hlaise recalled. That memory is why he has returned year after year, even as the school’s enrolment hovers around 2 800 learners and the needs continue to outpace the help. Hlaise admitted that the growing need for donations makes it difficult for him to be fulfilled, because even after handing out jerseys, he knows that there are still more learners who lack.

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Both Hlaise and Bila know the pain those learners endure, and that is why, according to Bila, it is important to give, even if it is to a single person. “I am giving because I know how it feels to not have a jersey. I know how it feels to tell a parent to buy you a jersey, and she is unemployed. Remember, I was once a student here at Bovet, and being a student, I knew how one would feel if people came to help them.”

He said that for him, the gesture transcends material aid; it is a powerful way to proclaim their love for Bovet learners, which is something he believes everyone needs. “One of the most pressing needs that people have is love. To love, support or care about someone does not need much, not money, but just you, and it goes a long way.”

Teacher Tshifhiwa Mudzanani, who helps manage the uniform department at Bovet Primary, described the relief this donation brings. “I am speechless. Most of our learners don’t have jerseys, shoes, or socks, especially with so many parents not working. To have 100 children helped during winter, we feel truly blessed,” she said.

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