Learners in Riverside returned to school this week with fresh haircuts, neatly done hairstyles, and brand-new stationery, thanks to a heartwarming community initiative that began with a single anonymous Facebook post.

What could have been a stressful start to the school year for many families instead became a moment of dignity and relief, as community members, volunteers, and local businesses came together to support learners ahead of reopening day.

The initiative was sparked when Phumzile Nhlapo, a Riverside resident, shared a post on a local Facebook group after noticing repeated pleas from parents struggling to prepare their children for school.

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“I kept seeing posts on the Riverside Facebook pages, parents asking for help, asking for money to buy this and that. So I thought: ‘There’s clearly a demand, people are really struggling’. I just thought, how about if we can help?”

The post quickly gained traction, with residents offering to volunteer and assist. Although the response online was overwhelming, Nhlapo admitted that turning goodwill into actual donations was challenging.

“At first it was overwhelming – I really didn’t expect it. The response was positive, but the actioning wasn’t really there. In the end, I had to cover a lot of the stuff myself because people were coming through but the donations were not as much.”

Still, the initiative moved forward and that is where Itumeleng Mokone, from the Dakalo ya Pfunzo Foundation, stepped in.

Mokone said she reached out after seeing the post because the message resonated with her own long-standing belief in community-driven solutions. “On Facebook, we always complain about Riverside, the lack of facilities, the lack of opportunities, but we never do anything. When I saw the post, I told her, don’t hide. Come out so we can actually do this together.”

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Learners received stationery, uniforms, sanitary towels, textbooks, and dictionaries, while boys and girls were treated to free haircuts and hairstyles.

She said only one salon, Momo’s Salon, responded to the call, but Mokone said their contribution made a significant difference. “She would take five kids at a time to her salon, wash their hair, then bring them back for the volunteers who were plaiting.”

Parents volunteered to braid girls’ hair, joined by a 15-year-old girl who also offered her services. Boys, and a few girls, received fresh haircuts.

For Nhlapo, seeing the results made the effort worthwhile. “I’ve seen some of the learners going to school with their hair done and stationery. I’ve also received messages from parents thanking me. That feeling, it was fulfilling. It was really nice.”

Encouraged by the impact, Nhlapo is now in the process of registering an non-profit organisation, and plans to make the back-to-school drive an annual initiative.

“Next time, I want to know exactly how many kids I’m helping, what I need, and who to approach. I still want to involve the community, but I also want to work more with companies.”

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