A group of 550 Bloemfontein learners have been given firm footing through a donation of shoes to enable them to pursue their education. The Liberty Standard Bank Group donated brand-new pairs of shoes equal in number to the learners enrolled at four primary schools.
In supporting of the 67 minutes for Mandela campaign, shoes were presented to the following schools: Batho (50 pairs), Mangaung (100), Morafe (200) and Botlehadi (200). The presentation was made on Thursday, 11 July. The majority are reportedly struggling to make ends meet given they are orphans, while others are from child-headed and single-parent homes.
The much-needed goodwill gesture is part of the group’s community social investment, the Winter School Shoes initiative.
Nozi Macheli, branch manager at Liberty Standard Bank, said learners had been identified in consultation with the respective schools, based on their dire and complex situation.
“The chief objective is to help alleviate their plight of going to school wearing torn shoes, barefoot and inappropriate shoes. Shoes were identified as the most needed among basic items to address their plight,” said Macheli.
She said demand for assistance the initiative had been extended to supply of sanitary products for girl learners at Grassland High School, for six months.
Lilahloane Letuka, principal of Merafe and Palesa Khalata, teacher at Batho, pointed out that many learners struggle as a direct result of their parents’ unemployment .
“Several learners endure the hardship of walking to school under severe weather conditions daily. They walk between 15 km and 20 km. Shoes is the only means enabling them attend school, cope and realise the dream to get education,” said Letuka.
