What power lies within a pair of school shoes? For many children, be they close to home or beyond our borders, this question is one they not only cannot answer but whose power they are yet to harness.
So, in an effort to make a Zimbabwean school child’s journey through school one filled with power, and not pain: The matric class of De La Salle Holy Cross College (DLSHCC) did what they do annually, host a flip-flop ceremony.
At this ceremony, which takes place the day a majority of the class writes their final examination, they place their school shoes into a box that will eventually make its way to Makembe, Zimbabwe.
Come 2024, 80 pairs of feet from this town will make their way to school full of confidence.
DLSHCC sees the symbolic act of leaving behind their school shoes as a powerful reminder that privilege comes with responsibility. For them, the collection of 80 pairs of school shoes is not merely a number; it represents 80 opportunities for learners from Holy Cross Secondary School to walk the path of education with dignity.
“In a world where education is often considered a right, these donated shoes are more than footwear—they are beacons of hope, signaling that someone, somewhere cares about the journey of these students,” said DLSHCC High School head Linda Galanakis.
She added the Holy Cross school is part of a network of institutions run by the Holy Cross Sisters in Southern Africa. The sisters have long been champions of education, breaking barriers and providing opportunities for those who might otherwise be left in the shadows.
Patrick Munyembate, De La Salle Holy Cross Alumnus and Member of the Governing Body reflects, “These school shoes are not just about protecting feet – they are symbols of dignity, pathways to knowledge, and sources of inspiration. They carry with them the message that education is a shared responsibility, transcending borders and backgrounds.”
Related Article: Supporters day comes to De La Salle Holy College
