New school shoes for needy primary school learners

Alfred Makhubela

Women of Methodist Church of Southern Africa, Soshanguve circuit donating school shoes for Meetseng Primary School learners

Impoverished learners from Meetseng Primary School in Soshanguve Block L were spoiled with early Easter gifts by The Methodist Church of Southern Africa Soshanguve Circuit 1131 on Thursday

The Meetseng learners were  each given  new pair of Toughees school shoes and a grey pair of socks by the Methodist Church women also known as Women’s Manyano.

The donation event was not only about giving shoes but the church also emphasised that parents and children should have better bonds.

The facilitator of the event Maiphephi Sesoko who’s also a Life Skills teacher at the school highlighted issues which South African children faced on a daily basis. For example children quitting school and leaving their homes to live under bridges as street children and children who became victims of drug abuse. She urged the church to pray for these serious issues that destroyed children’s futures.

The aim of the donation was to transform the lives of poverty-stricken learners who sometimes felt like outsiders when they were not able to wear a full uniform including school shoes.

 “Our purpose is to change the learners' lives. They must not feel lost at their own school. We hope this will encourage them to come to school,” said Nomsa Mathe, vice president of the Methodist Church’s Soshanguve circuit.

The church also emphasised the value of education in the community. Nomsa Mathe encouraged learners to make education a priority because of the high qualification demands of universities and other tertiary.

“Children in our communities should value education for it is important in today’s life which requires one to have a qualification to survive. Educated children bring hope to their parents” added Mathe.

The 34 needy learners welcomed the gifts with joy and saw this event as life changing.

12 year old Medupi Morudi said: “I feel happy because I have new school shoes and new socks. My school life will change. Now I will not worry much about what to wear. I am excited”.

Some of the learners had to attend school wearing sneakers and other casual shoes breaking the school’s full uniform policy.

aAccording to the school’s Inter phase and Senior phase head of department Maggie Molatudia a third of the learners at Meetseng were from poor backgrounds with unemployed parents and other learners were orphans.

She said that the learners’ social problems had resulted in poor academic performance and the situation had made them to be reluctant to attend classes.

“Three out of four of learners are from impoverished backgrounds. This affected their performance and attendance” said Molatudi. Meetseng Primary School urged parents and community leaders o help the needy by donating food and clothes to the school.

The school also pledged to do regular home visits to see how learners live in their respective homes.