Eldos NPOs donate school shoes to the needy

Learners from several extensions of Eldorado Park were blessed with a generous donation of brand-new and pre-loved school shoes to boost their confidence and help them attend school with dignity at Diamond Street, Eldorado Park, on February 28.

Various local organisations including the host Elizabeth Moffatt Foundation (EMF), House of Bread Ministry (HoBM) and Local Development and Economic Civil Association (LDECA) partnered with City Ministries to collect 250 school shoes to give back to the community.

This was warmly welcomed by happy parents and guardians who expressed gratitude to the organisations.

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Sintia Abdul (61), a grandparent of an eight-year-old girl who is in Grade Two, expressed her appreciation citing that many children do not have much.

“I think what the organisation is doing is good because some of these kids do not have parents who are present because of alcohol and substance abuse while others are from child-headed families,” said Abdul.

She said her granddaughter went late to school because she did not have a birth certificate. Her mother was battling drug addiction, she added.

“I usually buy shoes for her using my grant money but this year it was tough. Although we did not get the perfect shoes, I feel happy that at least we got something.”

The founder of EMF, Zelma Moffatt, who has been a resident in Eldos for over 50 years, has been supporting underprivileged children in the community through the NPO.

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She said she has been reaching out for shoe donations since the beginning of the year after noticing that many children were affected.

She received a generous donation of 50 pairs of shoes from a benefactor, Joanne Pelay, which was facilitated by a friend. Other donors and organisations chipped in to help the reach the target.

The shoes were distributed to children in need, fulfilling a promise Moffatt made to them earlier in the year.
Despite this success, Moffatt faces ongoing challenges in securing funding and support for her NGO.

She said she has struggled to get assistance from local government officials and has been disappointed by broken promises.

The NGO relies on donations and sponsorships to continue with the work, but these are often unpredictable and insufficient to meet the needs of the community.

LDECA secretary Riyaan Salie said the outreach to help underprivileged children was a meaningful and impactful initiative.

He said it goes beyond just providing footwear, adding that it restores dignity, boosts confidence, and ensures children can attend school comfortably.

“Many students walk long distances to school, often barefoot, which exposes them to injuries and harsh weather conditions. A simple pair of shoes can improve school attendance, participation, and overall well-being,” said Salie.

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However, he noted that for a sustainable impact, such initiatives should be paired with long-term solutions, such as addressing systemic poverty, improving access to quality education, and ensuring families have the means to support their children’s needs.

“We have partnered with EMF and City Hope Ministry so we can help expand the reach and effectiveness of such projects.”