By Lungile Ntimba
The Eastern Cape education department, in collaboration with non-profit organisation 1Million Shoes Campaign, has donated 700 shoes to underprivileged learners in the Nyandeni Municipality.
“By providing shoes to various learners, we are responding to the cycle of poverty, therefore stabilise households and improve access to education,” said Eastern Cape education MEC Fundile Gade.
He pleaded with organisations to join hands in supporting indigent learners across the province to help ensure that the youth had a brighter future.
Asiphile Mvunyiswa, a learner from Tshongweni Senior Secondary School, expressed her gratitude for the initiative.
“We have learned a lot from this experience, and as a school, we are very excited. It has boosted our self-confidence to receive new shoes. Some of us had worn-out shoes, and now we can walk to school with pride,” she said.
Dan Pasiya Foundation CEO Lizo Phiti who was involved in the initiative, highlighted the foundation’s vision of fostering collaboration through public-private partnerships.
“We have done this locally. We’re providing bursaries to all the rural children in our area right across the district, and even sometimes beyond throughout the province, where we are offering bursaries to highly performing children that we consistently monitor their performance,” said Phiti.
“We would love to join hands with whoever whose heartbeat is where to assist, help, and be the best they can be to change the lives of those that are less fortunate. That’s the reason that we are here.”
INSIDE EDUCATION
