For thousands of pupils across the country, having a pair of hardy shoes to call their own makes the traverse to and from school more comfortable and classroom learning more dignified. Liberty’s annual Winter Shoe Drive made this a reality for 14,452 pupils in 2022, ensuring the winter chill did not get in the way of learning at 100 primary schools countrywide.
“The potential to enjoy learning is severely diminished, when pupils have to go to school with worn-out school shoes or none at all, especially during the harsher winter months when the biting cold makes long walks to school and concentrating in class unbearable. Through the Liberty Winter Shoe Drive, we hope to change the lives of disadvantaged pupils one pair at a time, giving them every opportunity, they need to succeed” said Nomaxabiso Matjila, Head of CSI at Liberty.
Since its launch in 2017, the Liberty Winter Shoe Drive – in partnership with Bata Shoes – has delivered almost 50,000 pairs of new school shoes to underprivileged learners across South Africa. The initiative is driven by dedicated Liberty staff, who every year come together to donate money towards the purchase of school shoes, which are then distributed to selected primary schools in Eastern Cape, Gauteng, Free State, Limpopo, Mpumalanga, Western Cape, and KwaZulu-Natal.
The project is one of many that demonstrates Liberty’s continued commitment towards the development of education in support of tomorrow‘s leaders. “There is a desire to learn amongst young people and the reality is that in many parts of the country, young learners need basics such as school shoes. As an organisation, we roll up our sleeves and make an effort to be ‘in it with our people’ around our communities in the best ways possible, especially where education is concerned,” says Matjila.
Matjila says that education remains an important pillar for Liberty. “What may seem as basic as school shoes is an important aspect of the learning journey. Building a solid educational foundation for young learners sets them on a journey toward financial inclusion and freedom. A pair of shoes can start that journey by making a huge difference in a pupil’s life,” she adds
