Beaulieu Preparatory School learners, who are also ambassadors of NPO Sole2Sole, collected more than 100 pairs of shoes donated by the community and handed them to those in need.
Sole2Sole was founded by young Dario Gouvenia and his family in 2017 when he saw a young boy begging on the street with no shoes. Grade 7 learner, Shriya Naidoo said she was inspired by the story of the organisation to donate to those in need of a good pair of shoes. “To give shoes to the unfortunate not only gives them warmth and comfort during trying times but it also gives a person who receives a pair of shoes the opportunity to walk proudly with dignity and confidence. It makes myself and my friends so happy to bring joy and warmth to people in need,” she said.
Shriya, alongside her friends and fellow ambassadors of Sole2Sole, Julia de Villiers, D’Vida Emslie, Savarya Govender and Simone Munoz Camacho, have committed their time to the organisation and have donated shoes since 2019. Shriya’s mother, Karunes commended her daughter in her efforts in assisting with Sole2Sole. “Last year, Shriya initiated four boys who became ambassadors at Beaulieu Preparatory.
She occasionally helped with collecting, sorting, packing, and distributing while she was in Grade 6,” said Karunes.
“She saw the value it added and invited her friends to become part of this initiative this year.” Beaulieu learners collect shoes for the needy Shriya said last year, 2 200 pairs of shoes were donated by the families of Beaulieu Preparatory, and 60 000 pairs of shoes have been donated to Sole2Sole. “It took us three weeks to collect 180 pairs of shoes thus far. Unfortunately, due to Covid-19 this year we’ve had to pause the initiative for a while until it is safe to resume again.”
Zita Gouvenia, mother of Dario, helps with the running of the organisation and expressed her immense gratitude to the learners of Beaulieu and their shoe contributions. “The girls have committed to running it from their school for the next couple of months until the end of the year. “They have been absolutely amazing with collecting and distributing the shoes,” Gouvenia said.
“We thank them for making us ambassadors for this wonderful cause. No matter how big or small the contributions, it was always well received.” Shriya concluded, “As Dario says, ‘it’s not in the numbers but in the act of kindness’.” Shoe donations can be made at a drop-off point at Cedar Square Shopping Centre.
Details: Zita Gouvenia 079 501 9517.
