The Grade 5 girls of St Katharine’s School turned compassion into action when they visited Salvazione Christian School on January 23, delivering backpacks and stationery to pre-primary and primary school learners who need it most.

The visit marked the culmination of St Katharine’s ongoing charity initiative, in partnership with Pathways Promise, a non-profit organisation dedicated to providing underprivileged learners with essential school supplies.

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Each fully stocked backpack, costing R300, contains all the stationery a child needs for the school year. Through collective fundraising, St Katharine’s raised enough to support learners across four classes.

For the girls involved, the experience was about far more than donations. St Katharine’s has built a long-standing relationship with Salvazione Christian School, previously collecting toiletries, taking part in charity runs and creating opportunities for learners to interact through art and performances.

Grade 5 teacher Sinegugu Kuboni explained that the initiative was designed to instil empathy and responsibility. “Our children need to understand the human side of giving. It’s not only about money, but about relationships, interaction and learning from one another. These experiences teach lessons that go far beyond the classroom.”

Grade 5 learner Cecil Gibb described the visit as deeply rewarding. “We worked hard to pack all the backpacks, and it felt really good to help others. The younger children were so excited. Some of them kept saying how amazing it was. It made me think that we should keep helping whenever we can.”

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Pathways Promise founder Heather Levy said partnerships with schools such as St Katharine’s were vital to the organisation’s success.

Founded in November 2024, Pathways Promise supports underprivileged children by providing backpacks, stationery, lunchboxes and assistance with school fees and extracurricular activities through its Got Your Backpack campaign.

“Without basic school supplies, it becomes incredibly difficult for a child to succeed academically,” Levy said. “By easing financial pressure, we give learners the freedom to focus on learning and growing. Our children are our future, and with the support of schools like St Katharine’s, we are helping unlock their potential.”

More information about the initiative can be found at www.pathwayspromise.co.za.