The North West Department of Education has expressed its gratitude after the 1MillionSchoolShoes Campaign donated 600 pairs of school shoes to learners from six schools across the province.
The donation, which coincided with the conclusion of Nelson Mandela Month, was handed over during an event at Sarucena Primary School in Extension 25, Vryburg.
The Pretoria-based non-profit organisation has donated more than 150,000 pairs of school shoes to vulnerable learners across South Africa over the past decade. Through the initiative, the organisation aims to ensure that children from disadvantaged communities have access to proper school footwear, helping to restore dignity, improve school attendance and support their educational journey.
Learners from Sarucena Primary School, Devondale Intermediate School, Setumo Intermediate School, Modisakoma Primary School, Broederspuit Primary School and Floridine Primary School benefited from the latest donation.
The organisation also encouraged learners to embrace the value of generosity, reminding them that those who have the means should always consider supporting those who are less fortunate.
Board member Roleta Lobelo said the campaign’s long-term goal is to donate one million pairs of school shoes to learners across South Africa.
“We are proud, as the 1MillionSchoolShoes Campaign, to have been donating school shoes across the country for the past 10 years.
“We are not just giving out shoes; we are also teaching learners about the spirit of giving. What we are doing today is like planting a seed that will grow, multiply and positively impact communities throughout the country,” said Lobelo.
She also highlighted the challenges and stigma faced by learners who do not have proper school shoes.
“It is not something to laugh about or use to mock others. Some learners are even bullied because they do not have a decent pair of shoes. We need to support one another and encourage those who have the means to assist those in need,” she said.
North West Education MEC Viola Motsumi welcomed the donation, saying the province was honoured to be among the beneficiaries of the initiative.
“On behalf of the North West Department of Education, I would like to express our sincere appreciation for the generous gesture by the 1MillionSchoolShoes Campaign. As a province, we are truly grateful that our learners have benefited from this initiative.
“The donation of 600 pairs of school shoes will make a significant difference in the lives of our children and help restore their dignity,” said Motsumi.
She wished the organisation well in achieving its goal of donating one million pairs of school shoes to learners across South Africa.
