While there is a lot of hype around back to school and the needs of impoverished learners in January, these children tend to be forgotten about later in the year.
After hearing about a number of school children at three primary schools in Munsieville, Krugersdorp, who were going to school barefoot or wearing dilapidated shoes, STANLIB Direct Property Investments, the asset managers of the Liberty Property Portfolio, approached three of the Liberty shopping centres for help.
Sandton City, Nelson Mandela Square and Eastgate shopping centres made the decision to buy more than 1 000 pairs of school shoes for the children now, rather than waiting for the start of the new school year.
The driving force behind the project was Munsieville community activist Ms Maboshadi Lesego Mamathuba, who heads the Rutegang Munsieville Youth Organisation. The primary schools, Munsieville, Diphalane and Phatudi primary schools are three of the seven schools Ms Mamathuba has adopted.
The organisation helps the schools with fundraising and supports the teachers and learners through workshops, sourcing donations, sports and arts and culture activities. It also supports orphaned and vulnerable children in the community. Ms Mamathuba approached STANLIB for assistance when she saw how desperate the need was for new school shoes for a number of the learners.
Representatives from Sandton City, Nelson Mandela Square and Eastgate recently went to Munsieville Primary School to hand over the 1 090 pairs of new school shoes.
Sandton City donated 585 pairs of school shoes to learners at Munsieville Primary School, Eastgate purchased 393 pairs for pupils at Phatudi Primary School and Nelson Mandela Square handed over 112 pairs of school shoes to pupils at Diphalane Primary School.
Representatives from Phatudi and Diphalane primary schools went to Munsieville Primary School to collect the school shoes on behalf of the recipients.
“At Sandton City and Nelson Mandela Square we care about the community. We also place a great deal of importance on education so when we heard about the destitute learners in Munsieville, many of whom walk long distances to school, we knew we had to act immediately to help make their lives a little easier,” said Ms Julie Hillary, general manager Sandton region, JHI Retail.
“The plight of the learners in Munsieville struck a chord in our hearts and we didn’t hesitate to get involved. Buying new school shoes may seem like a small thing but for a number of these children, many of whom have only ever worn hand-me-down shoes, it is a big thing that means a great deal to them,” said Mr Johan van Belkum, the general manager of Eastgate.
The school shoes project was just one of many CSI initiatives each shopping centre undertakes each year.