Since 2020, the Shoe of Hope programme has sponsored over two thousand pairs of school shoes, handed to children at crèches and primary and high schools across Western Province. Thanks to a partnership between Youth4Life SA and Samaritan’s Feet SA, 600 pairs of school shoes have been delivered to vulnerable learners from schools in Durbanville, Bishop Lavis, Philippi, Lotus River, Mfuleni and Gugulethu.
Speaker in the Western Cape legislature Masizole Mnqasela said after the positive response the programme had received, they were putting plans in place to make it a countrywide initiative, where anyone would be able to donate or sponsor a pair of school shoes for learners.
“The goal of this initiative is to give these children hope, which is why those distributing the shoes wash each child’s feet before they put the shoes on,” said Mnqasela. Community leader, John Siljeur added that Mnqasela and the team had brought smiles to children’s faces with this generous initiative.
The speaker also said that he would also distribute school shoes to needy learners at Attie van Wyk Primary School (Durbanville), Bergville Primary School (Bishop Lavis), Dietrich Primary School (Philippi), Perivale Primary School (Lotus River), Fairdale Primary School (Mfuleni) and Lehlohonolo Primary School (Gugulethu).
