The Pick n Pay stores in the Gauteng region chooses a different underprivileged school each year to throw a Christmas Party.
Nonto Primary School was chosen because it’s from a poverty stricken background.
A Grade R Teacher, Nqobile Ntibana, explains:
“Nonto Primary School is a small school in Soweto. There are only 8 Teachers and roughly about 280 Learners. Nonto Primary School is a free school for children that are in Grade R – Grade 4. We only take children that have parents that are unable to afford education. Nonto Primary School provides these children with all necessities such as stationary, books, school bags, etc.”
Pick n Pay teamed up with DJ Ze, founder of the ‘Poverty Alleviation Project’ and brought 20 children from Nonto Primary School to Hyde Park Centre.
Pick n Pay usually hosts these events at the relative schools, but this year instead of going to Nonto Primary School, Pick n Pay, together with DJ Ze and the Moroka SAPS team, brought the children to Hyde Park Centre to let them experience what is like to be out at a mall and have some fun on that level. Pick n Pay made it special by allowing the children to make their own pizzas in the Pick n Pay kitchen.
Store Manager of Pick n Pay Hyde Park, Mahendra Singh says:
“to make it even more special. Pick n Pay got all the names of the children that were going to be in attendance and made name tags for them that went up on a Christmas tree that was in store”.
A few weeks in advance leading up to the Christmas Party, customers and employees had an opportunity to pick a name off the tree and buy a gift for a specific child which is really special because when the child gets the gift, their name is on it.”
Mr. Mahendra adds:
“over and above the gifting and party packs that the children received, the Pick n Pay General Manager of the Gauteng Region, Mr. Sabelo Mngomezulu sponsored 20 pairs of school shoes out of his pocket.
The event was a smashing success and the children really had a time of their lives”.
A huge thank you to Pick n Pay, DJ Ze and the Moroka SAPS team for contributing to making such a huge impact in these children’s lives.
Written by Tabitha Pillay
